In a historic move, Pope Leo XIV has canonized a 15-year-old computer prodigy, Carlo Acutis, as the Catholic Church's first millennial saint.
This significant event, which took place on Sunday, has provided the younger generation of Catholics with a relatable figure who utilized technology to propagate the faith, earning him the moniker "God's influencer."
According to the Associated Press, the canonization of Acutis, who passed away in 2006, was conducted during an open-air Mass in St. Peter's Square. The event was attended by tens of thousands of individuals, including a significant number of millennials and families with young children.
The first saint-making Mass of Pope Leo's pontificate also saw the canonization of another beloved Italian figure who died young, Pier Giorgio Frassati.
The Vatican reported that 36 cardinals, 270 bishops, and hundreds of priests had registered to celebrate the Mass alongside Pope Leo, indicating the immense appeal of the newly canonized saints to both the Church hierarchy and the ordinary faithful. Both ceremonies were initially scheduled for earlier this year but were postponed due to the death of Pope Francis in April.
Pope Francis had been a fervent advocate for the canonization, believing that the Church needed figures like Acutis to attract young Catholics to the faith while addressing the promises and challenges of the digital age.
Born on May 3, 1991, in London to a wealthy but not particularly devout Catholic family, Acutis moved to Milan shortly after his birth. He displayed an intense religious devotion from a young age, coupled with a keen interest in computer science.
His technological legacy includes a multilingual website documenting Eucharistic miracles recognized by the Church, a project he completed when such sites were typically developed by professionals. This accomplishment earned him the nickname "God's Influencer."
Acutis was known to spend hours in prayer before the Eucharist each day, a practice the Catholic hierarchy has been promoting due to polls indicating that most Catholics do not believe in the physical presence of Christ in the Eucharistic hosts. However, Acutis limited his video game time to an hour a week, demonstrating a preference for human relationships over virtual ones.
This discipline and restraint resonated with the Catholic hierarchy, which has expressed concerns about the dangers of today's tech-driven society.
In October 2006, Acutis was diagnosed with acute leukemia and passed away within days at the age of 15. He was laid to rest in Assisi, a place associated with another popular saint, St. Francis. Since his death, millions of young Catholics have visited Assisi to see Acutis, whose body is displayed in a glass-sided tomb, dressed in jeans, Nike sneakers, and a sweatshirt.
The Vatican has made a concerted effort to present Acutis as a new role model for the next generation of faithful, an "ordinary saint" who accomplished extraordinary things in life. Matthew Schmalz, a professor of religious studies at Holy Cross college in Worcester, Massachusetts, stated that Acutis' canonization extends the Church tradition of popular piety to the digital age.
He described Acutis as an emblem of how Catholics should approach and use the digital worldwith discipline and a focus on traditional Catholic spirituality.
The other saint canonized on Sunday, Pier Giorgio Frassati, lived from 1901-1925 and died at age 24 of polio. Born into a prominent Turin family, Frassati is remembered for his devotion to serving the poor and carrying out acts of charity while spreading his faith to his friends.
The canonization of Acutis and Frassati is a testament to the Church's commitment to recognizing and honoring individuals who, despite their young age, have made significant contributions to the faith.
It also underscores the Church's recognition of the role of technology in propagating the faith, as exemplified by Acutis. His life and work serve as a reminder that technology, when used with discipline and a focus on traditional Catholic spirituality, can be a powerful tool for spreading the faith and inspiring the younger generation of Catholics.
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