Pope Francis has authorised the canonisation process for an Italian teenager, Carlo Acutis, potentially making him the first millennial saint, following the attribution of a second miracle to him, the Vatican announced on Thursday.
A Modern Patron Saint
The teenager, Carlo Acutis, is often referred to as the patron saint of the internet by Roman Catholics due to his adept computer skills, which he used to disseminate his faith. He tragically died from leukaemia in 2006 at the age of 15, according to a report by The New York Times.
Early Life and Devotion
Born in London to Italian parents, Carlo moved to Milan with his family during his childhood. His fervent passion for Catholicism became evident early on, as his mother, Antonia Acutis, explained in a 2020 interview with The New York Times. At the age of seven, he began attending daily Mass, a practice that rekindled his mother’s own faith and brought her back to the church.
Commitment to Helping Others
Carlo was deeply committed to helping others, especially those less fortunate, and frequently donated to the homeless, his mother said. In the months leading up to his death, he employed his self-taught computer skills to create a website documenting miracles. Besides his devotion, Carlo also enjoyed playing football and video games.
Reported Miracles Post-Death
Following his death, Ms Acutis told The Times that people from around the globe reported medical miracles, including cures for infertility and cancer, which they believed occurred after praying to her son.
“Carlo was the light on the dark side of the web,” his mother stated, noting that some admirers called him an “influencer for God.”
A Positive Use of the Internet
Carlo’s life “illustrates how the internet can be a force for good, spreading positive messages,” Ms. Acutis added.
Steps Towards Canonisation
The journey towards Carlo’s canonisation commenced in 2020, after the Diocese of Assisi, where his family owned property, petitioned the Vatican to recognise him as a saint.
First Miracle: Healing of a Boy
In February 2020, Pope Francis credited Carlo with the miraculous healing of a boy who suffered from a malformed pancreas, after the child came into contact with one of Carlo’s shirts. This led to Carlo becoming the first millennial to be “beatified” by the church, a key step on the path to sainthood.
Second Miracle: Recovery of a Student
The final step required for canonisation is the Pope’s approval of a second miracle. According to the Vatican, the second miracle involved the recovery of a Costa Rican university student who sustained severe head trauma after a bicycle accident in Florence. Facing the prospect of major brain surgery and low survival odds, the student’s mother travelled to Assisi to pray at Carlo’s tomb in the Sanctuary of the Renunciation, seeking his intercession.
Remarkably, the young woman began to show rapid improvement in her breathing, mobility, and speech, the Vatican reported. Ten days after her mother’s visit to Carlo’s tomb, a CT scan revealed that the brain haemorrhage had disappeared, and the woman was subsequently transferred to a rehabilitation centre.
Final Steps Towards Sainthood
On Thursday, the Pope announced that he would convene a meeting of cardinals to discuss Carlo’s sainthood. The Vatican has yet to announce the date for the formal canonisation ceremony.
Significance of Carlo’s Canonisation
Carlo’s impending sainthood marks a historic moment, said Kathleen Sprows Cummings, a history professor at the University of Notre Dame and author of “A Saint of Our Own: How the Quest for a Holy Hero Helped Catholics Become American.” By utilising the internet to spread his faith, Carlo offers the Catholic Church a chance to showcase a positive use of social media, she noted. His canonisation could also help re-engage young Catholics who have become increasingly disconnected from the church.
“This exemplifies a relatable figure who might draw young people back to the church,” Professor Cummings said.
