The Catholic Church has entered a new chapter with the canonization of Carlo Acutis, the teenager known as “God’s Influencer,” who became the first millennial saint on September 7, 2025. At St Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV presided over the ceremony before tens of thousands of pilgrims, marking a moment that bridged tradition with modern life.
Carlo was born in London in 1991 and raised in Milan. Gifted with a sharp mind for technology, he learned coding and web design at a young age. By his early teens he had built a website cataloguing Eucharistic miracles around the world, an effort he finished shortly before his death from leukemia in 2006 at just fifteen years old. His work and devotion quickly earned him admiration among young Catholics who saw in him a saint who understood the digital age.
The Church recognized two miracles attributed to his intercession. A Brazilian boy was healed of a rare pancreatic disorder, and a Costa Rican student survived severe head trauma. These events paved the way for his beatification in 2020 and, finally, his canonization fifteen years later. His tomb in Assisi, where he rests in casual clothes of jeans and sneakers, has already become a popular pilgrimage site.
Carlo’s elevation to sainthood is historic not only for his age but also for his relevance to today’s generation. He represents a faith that is not confined to old structures but one that reaches into the world of technology and modern culture. Alongside him, Pope Leo XIV also canonized Pier Giorgio Frassati, a twentieth century Italian layman admired for his devotion and charity, showing that youthful holiness has many faces across time.
For many, Carlo is proof that sanctity is not distant but can be lived by ordinary people in everyday life. His story resonates with millions who see in him a reminder that technology can be a tool for good when paired with purpose and faith. As pilgrims celebrate his recognition as a saint, the world has gained a symbol of hope, modernity, and devotion in a teenager who used his gifts to inspire others.