A historic moment took place at the Vatican on Sunday, as Pope Leo XIV canonized two young Italian men. One of them became the first millennial ever declared a saint by the Catholic Church.
An estimated 70,000 people filled St. Peter’s Square to witness the ceremony, which had been postponed earlier this year following the death of Pope Francis in April.
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‘God’s influencer’
Among those honored was Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old who died of leukemia in 2006. Known for his deep faith and tech skills, Acutis taught himself to code and used the internet to create websites promoting Catholic teachings. He also created a website documenting miracles. His work earned him the nickname “God’s Influencer.”
To become a saint, a person must have two miracles attributed to them. His first miracle was in 2020, when a Brazilian boy with a pancreatic birth defect healed after his mother prayed to Acutis.
The second was in 2022, when a mother said she prayed at Acutis’ tomb and her daughter recovered from a severe brain injury that doctors didn’t think she’d survive.
The Vatican says Acutis’ canonization marks a turning point for the church, recognizing how faith can thrive in the digital age.
‘Man of the Beatitudes’
Also canonized was Pier Giorgio Frassati, an Italian man who died in 1925 at the age of 24 from polio. A devout Catholic and social activist, Frassati devoted his short life to helping the poor and sick.
He is often referred to as the “Man of the Beatitudes,” and has long been a symbol of joyful, everyday holiness. The church describes him as a role model for ordinary people striving to live with purpose and faith.
Both men had been beatified in previous years. That is the final step before sainthood. Religious experts say each inspired generations of young Catholics around the world.
