Dubbed the “saint of the internet age” and “God’s influencer”. Carlo Acutis used his computer skills to catalogue Eucharistic miracles.
The Catholic Church is set to receive its first millennial saint after Pope Francis announced Carlo Acutis’ canonisation date yesterday.
The announcement came at the conclusion of the Pope’s weekly general audience with pilgrims in St Peter’s Square.
British-born Italian Acutis – known for calling the Eucharist his “highway to heaven” – will be canonised during the Church’s Jubilee of Teenagers taking place between April 25-27, 2025, the Vatican press office later confirmed.
He has been dubbed the “saint of the internet age” and “God’s influencer” due to using his computer skills to catalogue Eucharistic miracles, something he was particularly devoted to.
His mother, Mrs Salzano, said: “His ordinary life became extraordinary because of the presence of Jesus [in him].
“He believed, if Jesus has shown us these signs [in the Eucharist], we should be involved in speaking about them and not ignoring them.”
Carlo Acutis died in 2006 at the age of 15, two days after finding out he had leukaemia. He had offered his suffering for the Pope and the Universal Church.
His cause was opened in 2013 to be declared a Servant of God. After being declared venerable by Pope Francis in 2018, he was beatified in October 2020.
Fr Patrick Ryall OSM, the current parish priest at Our Lady of Dolours where Acutis was baptised, said: “He was a remarkable young man who had a great understanding of the sacraments and scripture.”
The news of his canonisation has been met with much joy by those who have a connection to Acutis.
Fr Alan Robinson, Rector of the Shrine of Corpus Christi, told The Tablet: “I am delighted to hear that a date has been set for Bl Carlo’s canonisation. It is particularly moving that it will be taking place during the great Jubilee year, a time when we are all being called to grow closer to the Lord.
“Bl Carlo Acutis is a wonderful example of the Church’s universal call to holiness and a sign to people of every age that sanctity is possible for each one of us, if we place the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady at the heart of everything we do.”
Corpus Christi Catholic Church on Maiden Lane, London, was gifted a first class relic of Blessed Carlo by Cardinal Vincent Nichols in May 2021, containing a piece of his hair, which has now transformed into a shrine in its Lady Chapel.
Article courtesy of “The Tablet”
