Saint Carlo Acutis
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| Saint Carlo Acutis | |
| Feast Day | October 12 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Computer programmers, youth, internet |
| Birthplace | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Death Place | Monza, Lombardy, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Leukemia |
| Primary Shrine | Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Assisi, Umbria, Italy |
Saint Carlo Acutis (3 May 1991 – 12 October 2006) was an Italian Roman Catholic layman, computer programmer, and saint known for his deep devotion to the Eucharist and his use of technology to spread the Catholic faith. Born in London, England, to Italian parents, he grew up in Milan, Lombardy, Italy, where he developed a profound spiritual life from a young age, attending daily Mass and creating a website documenting Eucharistic miracles worldwide. His commitment to faith, combined with his technological skills, earned him the titles "God's Influencer" and the "Patron Saint of the Internet."
Acutis was canonized on 7 September 2025 by Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first millennial saint, celebrated for his relatable, modern approach to holiness.[1][2]
Diagnosed with leukemia at age 15, Acutis offered his sufferings for the Pope and the Church, passing away in 2006 in Monza, Lombardy. His canonization followed the recognition of two miracles attributed to his intercession: the healing of a Brazilian boy in 2013 and a Costa Rican woman in 2022. His life, marked by charity, empathy, and technological innovation, has inspired millions, particularly young Catholics, to pursue holiness in the digital age. His tomb in Assisi, Umbria, Italy, at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, attracts pilgrims worldwide, and his feast day is celebrated on October 12.[3][4]
Biography
Birth
Carlo Acutis was born on 3 May 1991 in London, England, United Kingdom, to Andrea Acutis and Antonia Salzano, members of wealthy Italian families.[1] His parents, who were working in London at the time, were not particularly religious, but Carlo’s early exposure to Catholicism sparked a lifelong devotion. The family resided at a private address in Kensington, London, before relocating to Milan, Lombardy, Italy, in September 1991, when Carlo was just a few months old.[2]
The move to Milan placed Carlo in a vibrant Catholic community within the Diocese of Milan, where he was baptized and began his spiritual journey. His birth in London, a global city, and subsequent upbringing in Italy, a heartland of Catholicism, shaped his unique identity as a bridge between modern technology and traditional faith.[1]
Early Life
From a young age, Carlo displayed an extraordinary devotion to the Eucharist and the Church, despite his parents’ initial lack of religiosity.[2] At age three, he frequently asked to visit Catholic churches, and by age seven, he received his First Communion at the Convent of St. Ambrogio ad Nemus in Milan. His daily Mass attendance and weekly Confession became hallmarks of his spiritual discipline, influencing his family, including his mother, who experienced a deep conversion inspired by her son’s faith.[2][5]
Carlo’s empathy was evident in his school life at the Leo XIII High School in Milan, where he defended bullied peers, particularly those with disabilities, and supported friends facing family challenges, such as parental divorce.[2] His love for Saint Francis of Assisi led him to adopt a simple lifestyle, often giving away possessions to the poor and volunteering with the homeless in Milan.[5]
Occupation
Carlo Acutis was a self-taught computer programmer, demonstrating remarkable skill in coding and website design from a young age.[3] He taught himself programming languages such as C and C++, using these skills to create websites for his parish and school in the Diocese of Milan. His most significant contribution was a website cataloging over 150 Eucharistic miracles worldwide, which he developed over two and a half years. This project, translated into multiple languages, became a global resource for Catholic catechesis and evangelization.[6]
Beyond his technological pursuits, Carlo balanced his interests with moderation, limiting his video game play to one hour per week to maintain spiritual discipline.[5] His ability to integrate faith and technology made him a model for young Catholics, showing how modern tools could serve the Church’s mission.[2]
Vocation
Carlo’s vocation was that of a lay Catholic, living out his faith in the secular world without entering a religious order or seminary.[1] His spiritual life centered on the Eucharist, which he called the "highway to heaven," and he promoted daily Mass and Eucharistic adoration as essential practices.[6] He served as a deputy catechist in his parish, assisting with First Communion and Confirmation classes, and used his technological skills to evangelize through digital platforms.[7]
His devotion to Saint Francis of Assisi and other young saints, such as Saint Bernadette Soubirous and Saint Dominic Savio, inspired his commitment to holiness in everyday life. Carlo’s approach to faith was accessible yet profound, encouraging peers to embrace Catholicism through his example of charity and prayer.[5]
Death
Carlo Acutis met his end at the age of 15 on 12 October 2006 in Monza, Lombardy, Italy, succumbing to acute promyelocytic leukemia.[1] Diagnosed just days earlier, he offered his sufferings for the Pope and the Church, expressing a desire to go "straight to heaven" without passing through purgatory.[2] At his request, he was buried in Assisi, Umbria, a city he loved for its association with Saint Francis of Assisi.[5]
His death deeply affected his community, with his funeral attended by many, including the homeless he had helped. His mother reported that Carlo appeared in her dreams, foretelling his canonization, which strengthened her resolve to promote his cause.[1] His body, remarkably preserved, was exhumed in 2019 and placed in a glass tomb in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, where it remains a focal point for pilgrims.[3]
Significant events
- Created a website cataloging over 150 Eucharistic miracles worldwide, launched in 2004.[6]
- Served as a deputy catechist in his parish in Milan, assisting with First Communion and Confirmation classes in 2004–2006.[7]
- Diagnosed with leukemia and offered his sufferings for the Pope and the Church in October 2006.[2]
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: London, England, United Kingdom
Death location: Monza, Lombardy, Italy
Notable location: Family residence (Via Ariosto 21, Milan, Lombardy, Italy, 20145)
Notable location: Primary shrine and tomb (Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore 1, Assisi, Umbria, Italy, 06081)
Notable location: Secondary education (Leo XIII High School, Via Giosuè Carducci 4, Milan, Lombardy, Italy, 20123)
Notable location:
Notable location:
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Canonization
Servant of God
The process to recognize Carlo Acutis as a Servant of God began in 2013, with the initial investigation conducted in the Diocese of Milan.[1] On 12 October 2012, the sixth anniversary of his death, the Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Angelo Scola, opened the cause for canonization, stating that Acutis was "a new treasure in the Ambrosian church."[1] The diocesan inquiry, launched on 15 February 2013, examined Carlo’s life, virtues, and writings, gathering testimonies from family, friends, and those influenced by his faith.[1]
Venerable
Carlo was declared Venerable by Pope Francis on 5 July 2018 for his life of heroic virtue.[5] The Congregation for the Causes of Saints affirmed that Carlo lived with exceptional devotion, charity, and humility, qualities that marked his short life. This stage recognized his exemplary faith without requiring a miracle.[1]
Beatification
Carlo was beatified on 10 October 2020 by Pope Francis in Assisi, Umbria, Italy, after the confirmation of a miracle involving the healing of a Brazilian boy with a congenital pancreatic defect in 2013.[2] The ceremony, held in the Basilica of Saint Francis, marked Carlo as "Blessed" and allowed his veneration in the Diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino and among young Catholics globally.[4]
Canonization
Carlo was canonized on 7 September 2025 by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, following a second miracle, the healing of a Costa Rican woman from severe head trauma in 2022.[8] His canonization, alongside Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, was the first under Pope Leo XIV, highlighting Carlo’s role as a model for modern youth. His universal veneration was approved, cementing his status as the first millennial saint.[8]
Miracles
Miracle for beatification
The miracle for Carlo’s beatification occurred in 2013 in Brazil, involving a seven-year-old boy named Matheus Vianna, who suffered from a congenital pancreatic defect known as annular pancreas, which made eating difficult.[1] His mother, Luciana Vianna, prayed a novena to Carlo and brought Matheus to a Mass where he kissed a relic of Carlo’s clothing. Immediately after, Matheus reported feeling healed and requested solid food, despite previously requiring a liquid diet. Medical examinations confirmed the complete resolution of his condition, deemed scientifically inexplicable by the Vatican’s Medical Council in 2019.[1]
This miracle, recognized by Pope Francis in 2020, paved the way for Carlo’s beatification. The event underscored Carlo’s devotion to the Eucharist, as the healing occurred during a Eucharistic service, aligning with his mission to promote the Real Presence.[2]
Miracle for canonization
The second miracle, recognized in May 2024, involved Valeria Valverde, a Costa Rican student in Florence, Tuscany, Italy, who suffered severe head trauma from a bicycle accident in 2022.[4] Her mother, Liliana, made a pilgrimage to Carlo’s tomb in Assisi on 8 July 2022, praying for her daughter’s recovery. That same day, Valeria began breathing spontaneously, and within days, she regained movement and partial speech. A CAT scan on 18 July confirmed the disappearance of her brain hemorrhage, and by August, she was in rehabilitation, making rapid progress. The Vatican attributed this recovery to Carlo’s intercession.[4]
This miracle, verified by Pope Leo XIV, fulfilled the requirements for canonization, highlighting Carlo’s continued influence and the global reach of his intercession. Valeria and her mother returned to Assisi on 2 September 2022 to thank Carlo, further solidifying his reputation as a powerful intercessor.[4]
Other notable miracles
- No additional miracles have been officially authenticated by the Church. However, numerous personal testimonies of healings and graces attributed to Carlo’s intercession have been reported by pilgrims visiting his tomb in Assisi.[8]
Patronage
Saint Carlo Acutis is the patron saint of computer programmers, youth, and the internet.[9] His patronage reflects his technological expertise and his appeal to young Catholics navigating the digital age.
Feast day
Saint Carlo Acutis’ feast day is celebrated on October 12, marking the anniversary of his death and his entry into heaven.[9]
Veneration
Saint Carlo Acutis is venerated through prayers, novenas, and pilgrimages to his tomb in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Umbria, Italy.[8] His relics, including his preserved body displayed in jeans, sneakers, and a hoodie, are kept in a glass tomb, attracting over a million pilgrims annually.[8] Additional relics, such as strands of his hair, are venerated in parishes worldwide, though the Church has condemned unauthorized sales of such items.[1]
Carlo is depicted in artworks wearing casual clothing, often with a backpack and a rosary, symbolizing his modern yet devout life. Notable portrayals include stone panels at his tomb and images in Assisi souvenir shops.[8] Media adaptations include a comic book, a video game, a documentary, an animated film, and a brickfilm, reflecting his widespread appeal.[1] His Eucharistic miracles exhibition continues to be displayed in thousands of parishes globally, influencing Catholic catechesis and devotion to the Eucharist.[6]
Books
Written about the saint
- Blessed Carlo Acutis: A Saint in Sneakers by Courtney Mares
- My Son Carlo: Carlo Acutis Through the Eyes of His Mother by Antonia Salzano Acutis
Written by the saint
- None known. Carlo Acutis did not publish books but created a website on Eucharistic miracles, accessible at [1].
External links
- Official Website of Carlo Acutis
- St. Carlo Acutis at Catholic Online
- Blessed Carlo Acutis at CatholicSaints.Info
- Vatican News on Carlo Acutis Canonization
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 "Carlo Acutis". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Acutis.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 "Who is Carlo Acutis? 12 things you should know about him". https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258678/who-is-carlo-acutis-12-things-you-should-know-about-him.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "St. Carlo Acutis". https://www.britannica.com/biography/Carlo-Acutis.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Pope Francis clears path for canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis". https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-francis-carlo-acutis-canonization-miracle.html.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Saint Carlo Acutis". https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-carlo-acutis.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "The Life of Carlo Acutis". https://www.catholic.com/tract/the-life-of-carlo-acutis.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Carlo Acutis, the First Millennial Saint". https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/carlo-acutis-the-first-millennial-saint/.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 "Carlo Acutis, Known as ‘God’s Influencer,’ Is Declared a Saint by Pope Leo XIV". https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/world/europe/carlo-acutis-saint-canonization.html.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "St. Carlo Acutis". https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=8050.