Vatican to Canonize First Millennial Saint

The Vatican has revealed plans to canonize its first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis, this September. Pope Leo XIV made the announcement during a meeting with Caldars on September 7.

According to reports, Carlo Acutis passed away from leukemia in 2006 at just 15 years old in Northern Italy. His journey toward sainthood began with his untimely death.

Originally set for canonization on April 27 during the Vatican’s Jubilee for teens, Acutis was to be recognized around the time of Pope Francis’s death on April 21.

During his brief life, Acutis was quite the typical teenager, balancing fun and responsibilities. He volunteered to assist the homeless and taught about Catholicism at a local church. Notably, he also showcased his tech skills by creating a website documenting various Eucharistic miracles recognized by the church.

Interestingly, the first miracle attributed to Acutis involved his mother, Antonia, who shared her story of transformation after his passing. She recalled feeling hopeless about having more children until, a month after visiting her son’s grave, she discovered she was pregnant.

The Vatican has since recognized a second miracle, which involved a young woman in Costa Rica named Valeria Valverde. She suffered severe brain damage from a bike accident in Italy in 2022 but made a miraculous recovery after her mother prayed at Acutis’s grave.

Acutis’s tomb, located in Assisi, has become a popular pilgrimage site, especially for younger Catholics drawn to his story. As he joins the revered Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati in the Book of Saints, the anticipation around his canonization continues to grow.