Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager renowned for his devotion to the Eucharist and his digital evangelism, is set to become the first millennial saint. This recognition follows the Vatican’s approval of a second miracle attributed to his intercession.
Carlo’s journey towards sainthood began with his beatification in October 2020, after being declared venerable in July 2018. Known for his work in creating a website documenting Eucharistic miracles, Carlo has been affectionately dubbed the “God’s influencer.” His life and work continue to inspire many, especially through the documentaries “The Sky Can’t Wait” and “Heaven’s Heartbeat.”
First Miracle: Healing of a Brazilian Child
Carlo’s first recognized miracle involved the healing of a Brazilian child suffering from a congenital pancreatic disease. The boy was healed after being blessed with a relic of Carlo Acutis, bypassing the need for a risky surgical procedure. This miraculous event occurred on October 12, 2010, the same date Carlo passed away.
Second Miracle: Recovery of Valeria Valverde
The second miracle, crucial for his canonization, involved Valeria Valverde, a 21-year-old from Costa Rica. Valeria suffered a severe head injury in a bicycle accident and underwent an emergency craniotomy to reduce intracranial pressure. Despite the surgery, her prognosis was grim.
Valeria’s mother, on a pilgrimage to Assisi, prayed at Carlo Acutis’s tomb for her daughter’s recovery. Miraculously, Valeria began breathing independently that same day and regained the use of her arms and partial speech the next day.
Canonization Process
The Pope has now authorized the second miracle, allowing Carlo Acutis to be canonized. This decision was announced during a meeting between Pope Francis and Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. The Vatican has yet to set a date for the canonization ceremony.
About Carlo Acutis
Carlo Acutis was born in London in 1991 and passed away in 2006 due to leukemia. Despite his short life, he left a significant impact through his devotion to the Eucharist and his digital apostolate. He considered the Eucharist “a highway to heaven” and lived a life marked by deep faith and charity. His incorrupt body, now displayed in Assisi, continues to be a site of pilgrimage and veneration.
Alongside Carlo, other blessed individuals set to be canonized include Giuseppe Allamano, Marie-Léonie Paradis, and Elena Guerra. Allamano, an Italian priest, founded the Consolata Missionary Sisters and was beatified in 1990 by Pope John Paul II. Paradis, a Canadian nun, founded the Little Sisters of the Holy Family, and Elena Guerra was known for her devotion to the Holy Spirit, founding the Oblate Sisters of the Holy Spirit.
Carlo Acutis’s impending canonization highlights the ongoing relevance of faith in the digital age and the powerful intercession of those devoted to spreading the Gospel. His life serves as an inspiration to many, demonstrating how modern tools can be used to share timeless truths. As the Church prepares to celebrate his sainthood, Carlo’s legacy continues to shine brightly, encouraging a new generation of believers.