Erik Tenedero

The body Italian teenager Carlo Acutis on display at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Italy for public veneration. Photo from Diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino

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Carlo Acutis

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17571251319381757125128811.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The body Italian teenager Carlo Acutis on display at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Italy for public veneration. <em>Photo from Diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Beatific images of saints depicted with heavenly postures, flowing robes, and bright halos often adorn Catholic churches.</p><p>But two millennia since the apostolic age, the Church will now have a saint donning a tracksuit jacket, jeans, and a pair of running shoes. What&#x27;s more, he&#x27;s a computer whiz and social media savvy. </p><p>On September 7, during the Ordinary Jubilee Year of 2025, Pope Leo XIV will canonize Italian teenager Carlo Acutis</p><p>Here are five things to know about the young man who lived a life of extraordinary faith.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FIRST MILLENNIAL SAINT</strong></div><p>Carlo Acutis was born in London on May 3, 1991, making him a millennial. His Italian parents later returned to Milan, where Carlo grew up.</p><p>From an early age, he displayed deep devotion to Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. At just seven, he began attending daily Mass and praying the rosary.</p><p>In October 2006, what seemed like a simple flu worsened dramatically. He was diagnosed with M3 acute leukemia and passed away at age 15.</p><p>“I offer all the suffering I will have to suffer for the Lord, for the pope, and the Church,” Acutis said before his death.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CYBER-APOSTLE OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST</strong></div><p>This was a title given to Acutis by the Catholic faithful due to his immense devotion to the Holy Eucharist.</p><p>A gamer and a programmer, he used his computer skills to create a website (miracolieucaristici.org) that documented Eucharistic miracles all over the world.</p><p>Over the span of two-and-a-half years, he was able to document 187 Eucharistic miracles.</p><p>His official biography noted how his peers and adults with computer engineering degrees considered him a genius. He also had an interest in film editing, comics, and layout. </p><p>But amid all these, he was still the typical young boy of his age. His mother said he loved playing video games, football, and being with friends and at school.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MIRACLES THROUGH HIS INTERCESSION</strong></div><p>The cause for Acutis&#x27; beatification and canonization began in October 2012.</p><p>As with the case for those on the road to sainthood, at least one miracle attributed to the person&#x27;s intercession is needed to advance the process.</p><p>The first miracle attributed to his intercession was the healing of a four-year-old Brazilian boy with a severe pancreatic malformation. After this, Pope Francis beatified him in Assisi, Italy, on October 10, 2020.</p><p>The second miracle attributed to his intercession was the healing of a 21-year-old woman from Costa Rica who was in critical condition due to a bicycle accident.</p><p>Pope Francis approved his canonization and was initially set last April 27. But when Pope Francis passed away, the canonization was postponed.</p><p>Upon election, Pope Leo XVI rescheduled the canonization to September 7.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>A TEENAGER WHO SOMETIMES MISSED HIS ASSIGNMENTS</strong></div><p>A documentary film about the life of Acutis, entitled &quot;The Boy From Milan,&quot; was released last April.</p><p>Aside from interviews with Acutis&#x27; mother, his high school religion teacher Fabrizio Zaggia shared insights about the young saint.</p><p>In a Vatican News interview, the film&#x27;s executive director Edmundo Reyes said he was fascinated by how people like Zaggia saw Acutis differently and recalled moments that portrayed him as an everyday teen.</p><p>The teacher shared how the future saint would sometimes miss his assignments. When asked by Zaggia, Acutis would say that he had more important things to do. Later on, it was revealed that the reason for this was the young man&#x27;s passion for caring for the poor.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HIS TOMB CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE</strong></div><p>Acutis&#x27; body is on display for public veneration at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Italy.</p><p>Church officials, however, clarified that Acutis&#x27; body is &quot;not incorrupt.&quot;</p><p>Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi, at the Mass following the tomb&#x27;s opening, said Acutis&#x27; body was &quot;reassembled with art and love.&quot;</p><p>Fortunately, those who cannot travel to Italy can view Acutis&#x27; tomb through live video streaming on YouTube and on the website carloacutis.com.</p><p>The YouTube Channel Maria Vision Italia started livestreaming Acutis&#x27; tomb in 2024. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/250zJehPwkQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Here are five things to know about Carlo Acutis, the Catholic Church's first millennial saint </p>

Here are five things to know about Carlo Acutis, the Catholic Church's first millennial saint

A saint in tracksuit and sneakers: 5 things to know about Carlo Acutis

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A saint in tracksuit and sneakers: 5 things to know about Carlo Acutis

Erik Tenedero,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 06, 2025 10:19 AM PHT

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Updated Sep 06, 2025 03:31 PM PHT

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Carlo Acutis

First Millennial Saint

Vatican

Pope Leo XIV

Pope Francis

canonization

Catholic Church

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