The Vatican has acknowledged Carlo Acutis, a young man born in London, for his innovative use of the Internet to spread Catholic teachings.
This acknowledgement indicates that Acutis is on track to become the first millennial saint, meaning a person born in the early 1980s to late 1990s.
Carlo Acutis passed away in 2006 at the age of 15 due to acute leukaemia.
Despite his brief life, Acutis significantly impacted through his digital evangelism, earning the moniker "God's influencer."
According to reports on May 23, 2024, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis attributed a second miracle to him, an essential step in the canonization process.
This second miracle involved the alleged healing of a university student in Florence who had severe brain haemorrhaging following head trauma.
The first miracle attributed to Acutis, which led to his beatification in 2020, was the alleged healing of a Brazilian child suffering from a congenital pancreatic disease.
Carlo Acutis's Sainthood process began with a thorough investigation of these miracles.
The Vatican statement revealed that Pope Francis confirmed the approval of the second miracle during a meeting with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, head of the Vatican's saint-making department.
Carlo Acutis' Early Life and Digital Legacy
Carlo Acutis spent much of his life in Italy, having moved there during his childhood. Diagnosed with leukemia, he passed away in Monza.
A year after Carlo Acutis death, his body was relocated to Assisi, where it is now displayed along with other relics associated with him.
Acutis is mainly remembered for his work developing websites for his parish and school.
According to Screenshot, he can be described as “Steve Jobs of the Bible.”
Just days before his death, he launched a website documenting every reported Eucharistic miracle.
This website has gained global recognition, been translated into multiple languages, and served as the foundation for a traveling exhibition.
Acutis’ digital work earned him the posthumous title “God’s influencer.” His legacy continues to influence both Italy and the UK.
In 2020, the Archbishop of Birmingham established the Parish of Blessed Carlo Acutis, incorporating churches in Wolverhampton and Wombourne.
Additionally, a statue of him stands at Carfin Grotto, a Roman Catholic shrine in Motherwell, Scotland.
The Impact of Carlo Acutis
Canonization involves verifying at least two miracles attributed to the candidate. These miracles are typically extraordinary events, such as sudden and unexplainable healings of critically ill individuals.
Carlo Acutis's sainthood was confirmed when Pope Francis approved the second miracle following a detailed examination by the Vatican's saint-making department.
Acutis' legacy continues to influence the Catholic community worldwide. His work in the digital space remains relevant and impactful, inspiring many to use modern technology for religious outreach.
The Catholic Church is now preparing for the canonization of Acutis, officially making him the first millennial to become a saint.
The Vatican's recognition of his second miracle confirms his impact on the Catholic community and the lasting legacy he brought to the faith through digitization.
Carlo Acutis's death and Carlo Acutis's sainthood will go down in the Church's history as the merging of tradition with modernity.