St. Carlo Acutis 9/7/2025

In a world where social media dominates and screens absorb most of our attention, it's easy to forget that holiness isn’t limited to saints in stained glass windows — sometimes, it looks like a teenager in jeans and sneakers who loved computers and Jesus.

Carlo Acutis was an Italian teenager who used his passion for technology to spread the Gospel. His life may have been short — just 15 years — but his legacy is making a global impact, especially among young people searching for meaning in the digital age.

Carlo was born on May 3, 1991, in London, while his parents were temporarily living there for work. Not long after, the family moved back to Milan, Italy, where Carlo grew up. What’s striking is that, although his family wasn't deeply religious at the time, Carlo showed an early, almost instinctive love for God.

By age 7, he was already begging to receive his First Holy Communion, and with special permission, he did. From that moment on, he rarely missed a day of Mass, prayed the Rosary daily, and frequently spent time in Eucharistic Adoration. He loved to say, “The Eucharist is my highway to Heaven.”

In October 2006, Carlo was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. The news came suddenly — but he faced it with peace, courage, and deep trust in God.

He offered his suffering for the Pope, for the Church, and for the souls in Purgatory. Just days later, on October 12, 2006, Carlo died peacefully, surrounded by his family. He was only 15.

He had asked to be buried in Assisi, home of his favorite saint — St. Francis — and today, his body rests there, now displayed for pilgrims to venerate.

He was canonized as a saint by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Sunday, September 7, 2025. The first millennial saint!