Liputan6.com, Jakarta Saint Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager known as the "Patron of the Internet" and "God's influencer," will soon be canonized by the Catholic Church.
His inspiring figure has captured global attention for his deep devotion to the Eucharist and his ability to use technology to spread the faith.
Advertisement
Although his parents were not particularly religious, Carlo served as a model of faith for them, regularly attending daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration.
His short but rich life ended at the age of 15 due to leukemia, but his legacy continues to inspire millions around the world.
Saint Carlo Acutis' canonization, rescheduled for September 7, 2025, made him the first millennial saint.
In keeping with his spirit when he once said, "The Eucharist is the highway to heaven."
Carlo Acutis' Journey to Holiness
The canonization process in the Catholic Church is a rigorous series of stages, beginning with the recognition of heroic virtues, followed by beatification, and culminating in canonization after the recognition of a miracle.
For Carlo Acutis, this journey to sainthood was officially opened by the Archdiocese of Milan on October 12, 2012, exactly six years after his death.
A diocesan inquiry then began on February 15, 2013, gathering evidence and testimonies concerning his holy life and devotion.
On November 14, 2019, the Vatican Medical Council gave a positive opinion regarding the healing of a boy in Brazil born with a malformed pancreas.
This medically inexplicable healing was recognized as a miracle thanks to prayers through the intercession of Carlo Acutis.
Carlo Acutis was then officially beatified, or declared "Blessed," by Pope Francis on October 10, 2020.
The solemn beatification ceremony took place in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Assisi, Italy, attended by thousands of faithful and broadcast worldwide.
The path to full sainthood was brought even closer when, in May 2024, Pope Francis recognized a second miracle attributed to Carlo Acutis' intercession.
Carlo Acutis: First Millenial Saint
The canonization of Saint Carlo Acutis has attracted global attention, particularly as he would have been the first millennial saint of the Catholic Church.
According to available information, Carlo Acutis's canonization was originally scheduled for April 27, 2025, coinciding with the Jubilee of Youth.
However, the date was postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, which led to a change in the Vatican's agenda.
On that date, he was canonized alongside Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, another saint known for his piety and social awareness.
This event would have been a historic moment for the Church, marking the official recognition of the sainthood of a teenager living in the digital age.
The canonization would have been presided over by Pope Leo XIV.
Acutis's mother, Antonia Salzano, said she believes her son's life and beliefs resonate with younger generations, especially those navigating the complexities of the digital world.
“Carlo is a message of hope, because Carlo says, ‘Yes, you have to use (the internet) for good.’ This why Pope Francis called Carlo God’s influencer,” she told CNN in Assisi earlier this year.
Profile of the Life and Devotion of Saint Carlo Acutis
Carlo Acutis was born in London, England, on May 3, 1991, to Andrea Acutis and Antonia Salzano.
A few months after his birth, his family moved to Milan, Italy.
From a very young age, Carlo showed a deep interest in the Catholic faith, even before his parents became devout believers.
At the age of seven, he received his first Holy Communion, and from then on, daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration became an integral part of his routine, accompanied by the diligent recitation of the Rosary.
The teenager also possessed an extraordinary talent for digital technology.
He taught himself programming and web design, then used his skills for evangelization.
Carlo created a website documenting Eucharistic miracles and Marian apparitions around the world, with the ultimate goal of helping people recognize the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and encouraging them to return to Mass.
His dedication to using technology for faith earned him the nicknames "protector of the internet" and "God's influencer."
Carlo was also known for his kindness and generosity to others.
He often defended schoolmates who were victims of bullying, especially those with disabilities, and used his pocket money to help the poor.
He once uttered the inspiring quote, "Sadness is looking at ourselves; happiness is looking towards God," and affirmed, "The Eucharist is the highway to heaven."
At the age of 15, Carlo was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia.
Carlo Acutis died on October 12, 2006, in Monza, Italy, and his remains were buried in Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis of Assisi, a place he deeply loved.