Carlo Acutis, a British-born teenager who died in 2006 at age 15, was canonized Sunday in Vatican City, becoming the first millennial saint in the Catholic Church.

Canonization Ceremony

Pope Leo proclaimed Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati as saints during an open-air Mass in St. Peter’s Square before thousands of young pilgrims. The canonization was part of this year’s Jubilee, which has already drawn more than 32 million visitors to Rome.

Life and Legacy of Acutis

Born in London in 1991 and raised in Milan, Acutis used his computer skills to create websites documenting Eucharistic miracles. He attended daily Mass, helped the poor, and encouraged others to deepen their faith before his death from leukemia. Known as “God’s Influencer,” his tomb in Assisi has become a popular pilgrimage site.

Family and Global Appeal

Acutis’s mother, Antonia Salzano, attended the ceremony with his siblings. She said his example proves that sainthood is possible for ordinary young people. Many Catholic youth say they relate to him because he lived a modern life—playing soccer, coding, and using technology—while devoting himself to faith.

Inspiration for Today’s Generation

In his homily, Pope Leo called the new saints an invitation for young people “not to squander life but to make it a masterpiece.” Acutis, he said, reminded the world that true beauty comes from the soul, not appearances.

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