Sun Sep 07 11:51:36 UTC 2025: ## “God’s Influencer” Carlo Acutis Becomes Church’s First Millennial Saint
**Vatican City** – Carlo Acutis, the London-born Italian teenager dubbed “God’s Influencer” for his pioneering use of the internet to spread Catholic teachings, has been officially canonized as a saint by Pope Leo XIV. The ceremony, held in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, was attended by thousands of faithful and marked a historic moment as Acutis became the first millennial saint.
Acutis, who died in 2006 at the age of 15 from leukemia, harnessed his self-taught coding and programming skills to document recognized church miracles and disseminate Catholic teachings globally at a time when digital literacy was less widespread. His relatability, often photographed in casual attire, has resonated deeply with young people, making him a modern role model for the digitally focused generation.
During the Mass, Pope Leo XIV also canonized Pier Giorgio Frassati, who died in 1924 and was known for his extensive charitable work. In a speech, the pontiff lauded both Acutis and Frassati for transforming their lives into “masterpieces,” cautioning the audience against “wasting” life outside of God’s plan. He emphasized that their lives serve as an “invitation to all of us, especially young people, not to squander our lives, but to direct them upwards and make them masterpieces.”
The path to sainthood for Acutis was paved by documented miracles, including the healing of a boy with a pancreatic birth defect and a girl injured in Costa Rica, as confirmed by the Catholic News Agency. His mother, Antonia Salzano, has been a dedicated advocate for his canonization.
Pope Francis, prior to his passing in April, acknowledged Acutis’s impact in a 2019 letter, recognizing the potential risks of the digital world but also highlighting the creativity and genius displayed by young people like Acutis.
Acutis’s body, preserved in wax, now rests in a glass tomb in Assisi, Italy, attracting hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually. Even Our Lady of Dolours Church in London, where he was baptized, has witnessed a surge in visitors. A relic of his heart has been displayed in churches worldwide, further solidifying his legacy as a saint for the modern age.
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