Teen tech whiz 'God's influencer' to become first millennial saint

Carlo Acutis known as "patron saint of the internet" for his work documenting Eucharistic miracles globally.

A teenage computer whiz who used the early 2000s internet to spread awareness of the Catholic faith is set to become the church's first millennial saint.

Carlo Acutis, who passed away from leukemia at age 15 in 2006, was already known as "God's influencer" and the "patron saint of the internet" for his work documenting Eucharistic miracles globally. Soon, his sainthood will be official.

Pope Francis and a group of cardinals approved Acutis for canonization at a Vatican meeting on Monday, Vatican News announced. Acutis is expected to be declared a saint in 2025, during the church's jubilee year.

Acutis, a devout Catholic, taught himself programming and created spiritually focused websites, including a widely praised database of miracles. He was known for helping the homeless and defending bullying victims during his life, and for being associated with two posthumous healing miracles, the necessary requirement for sainthood in the Catholic Church.

Monday's approval marks the final step in a process that began in 2013, when Pope Francis named him a "Servant of God."

The process of sainthood in the Catholic Church involves three steps. First, a deceased person must be declared "Venerable" for living a heroically virtuous life. Next, they must have participated in a miracle to be recognized as "Blessed." Finally, a second miracle is required for canonization.

Acutis was beatified in October 2020 after the Vatican recognized his intercession in 2013 to save a Brazilian child suffering from a rare pancreatic condition. The child was healed after praying to Acutis and coming into contact with one of his relics.

In May of this year, a second miracle was attributed to Acutis. A girl from Costa Rica recovered from serious head trauma after her mother prayed at Acutis' tomb in Assisi.

Acutis' mother, Antonia Salzano, expressed great joy and hope at the approval of the second miracle. She emphasized that holiness is still relevant in modern times.

An 18th-century Argentinian woman was the most recent person to be pronounced a saint in February of this year.

Born to Italian parents in London in 1991, Acutis moved to Milan as an infant. Despite his parents' lack of devoutness, Acutis developed a deep interest in Catholicism, particularly the Eucharist, and often visited saints' birthplaces and miracle sites.

Acutis was also passionate about computers, teaching himself internet use, programming, and graphic design. He combined his interests by designing websites for his parish and school and documenting over 150 Eucharistic miracles worldwide.

His website, translated into multiple languages, became a valuable tool for religious instruction globally, earning acclaim from the church.

Acutis also enjoyed playing video games, including Halo, Super Mario, and Pokémon, though he limited himself to one hour a week. He played the saxophone, loved soccer, and had a fondness for dogs.

Acutis died in October 2006, shortly after falling ill with what was initially thought to be the flu but was acute myeloid leukemia. He requested to be buried in Assisi, devoted to Saint Francis of Assisi, and was reburied there in 2007.

His body was exhumed in 2019 and moved to a shrine at the Church of St. Mary Major, where Saint Francis renounced his wealth. It remains on display in a glass case, dressed in jeans, an athletic zip-up, and Nike sneakers.

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, more than 41,000 people visited Acutis' tomb during his beatification celebration in October 2020.

Acutis' website has been the basis for a traveling exhibition and statues in Scotland and Ireland. Pope Francis even blessed a statue destined for an orphanage in Cairo