The upcoming canonization of Italian teenager Carlo Acutis reflects the Vatican's desire to succeed in out to a brand new generation of Catholics

Italian teenager Carlo Acutis, who died in 2006 on the age of 15 from a rare type of leukemia, will soon turn out to be the primary “millennial saint.”

Acutis was a pc programmer who created virtual exhibitions and databases on Eucharistic miracles – when you consider that bread and wine are transformed into the physical body and blood of Jesus – and the reported sightings of the Virgin MaryAlthough no exact date was announced, the Vatican stated that his canonization will happen in 2025, when the Church celebrates its jubilee, or holy 12 months, which occurs every quarter of a century.

canonization is the official term for the canonization of an individual. This requires the verification of a lifetime of faith through an often lengthy research process. This includes the confirmation of two miracles. Acutis' first miracle was attributed to a Brazilian child who was unable to eat solid food on account of a pancreatic disease, but was inexplicably healed after prayers were offered to the teenager in 2013. The second case involved a Costa Rican schoolgirl who awoke from a coma after a head injury. after her mother prayed on the shrine of Acutis in 2022.

Described by Bishop of Assisi As a “normal” teenager with extraordinary faith, Acutis’ upcoming canonization reflects the Vatican’s interest in making a more modern church that appeals to a brand new generation of believers.

This trend began across the turn of the millennium with one other charismatic saint, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina – one of the crucial prayed saints on the planet – their devotion I studied for over a decade.

Born in Pietrelcina (Italy) in 1887, the Franciscan priest with the unique name Francesco Forgione was named by the Vatican as “Saint for the Millennium“ when he was canonized in 2002. Pio was probably the primary saint of the twenty first century to talk to the culture of the time.

Padre Pio: Living Saint of the twentieth Century

It was believed that Pio, a poor monk, had the stigmata or bleeding wounds from the crucifixion of Jesus. Considered a living saintHe is alleged to have had mystical visions of Jesus and to have been capable of know upfront what people were coming to admit.

During his lifetime, Pio used donations from his followers to establish a research hospital on the pilgrimage church in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, thus combining medical and spiritual healing.

When he died in 1968, the Italian Air Force threw flowers at his funeral procession, which included a an estimated 100,000 peopleand his canonization ceremony in 2002 had a record of 300,000 participantsHis extraordinary devotion in 2008-2009 attracted over 9 million Pilgrims to the town of San Giovanni Rotondo. This 12 months it was exhumed and placed on display before being transferred to a brand new ultra-modern basilica designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano and decorated with works by leading contemporary artists.

In 2016, Pope Francis brought his body to Rome to Centerpiece for his special Jubilee Year of MercyTens of 1000’s watched his move through town of Rome to the Vatican.

Pios “Rock Star“The popularity was and is driven by Global Media These include over five multilingual magazines, a publishing house, a radio station, a satellite television station and a website, which together brings the sanctuary over $150 million per 12 months.

Such modern media were rare on the turn of the millennium, but were considered essential to capture photos and videos of 1’s Stigmatasomething people needed to do see to consider.

Acutis: A Saint of Everyday Life

But as Pio's followers age, the Church appears to be turning to Acutis to appeal to a brand new, more secular demographic.

Like Pio, Acutis enjoys great popularity amongst a brand new generation searching for contemporary models of holiness. based on journalist Rhina Guidoswho interviewed Latin American teenagers in 2023. The appeal of Acutis lies in being an strange one who lives out faith in on a regular basis life – which Pope Francis describes as “Saint next door.”

What sets Acutis other than other saints is that “none of these people have ever used a cell phone, played PlayStation video games, or searched for information on Google,” writes Rev. Will Conquer in his biography.A Millennial in Paradise.” In fact, the media is already praising Acutis as “God's Influencers” and the “Patron Saint of the Internet.”

In January 2024, Pope Francis will called on young people to make use of their modern, on a regular basis interests for the Church, as Acutis did: “Since he was very familiar with the Internet, he used it in the service of the Gospel, spreading the love of prayer, the profession of faith and charity.”

His story can also be marketed through media that the brand new generation uses. Especially TikTokInstagram and YouTube. His biographies appear in the shape of comics or young adult novels. Biographies with titles like “A saint in sneakers” And “God's computer genius“” mix stories about his sainthood with discussions about his love of Nutella and his struggle with weight, his interests in soccer, mountain climbing and trying to find information on Google, and his passion for Pokémon and Halo video games.

His online exhibitions have also received an old-school makeover: A physical version has been created and is exhibited in parishes throughout Europe and the USA – a technique to connect younger and older generations. Located in Pennsylvania, Malvern Retreatone among the oldest and largest spiritual centers within the USA, has a everlasting exhibition of the Eucharistic miracles of Acutis in its Shrine and Center for Eucharistic Encounter of Blessed Carlo Acutis.

A contemporary pilgrimage

On his deathbed, Acutis asked to be buried in Assisi, Italy – the birthplace of Saint Francis, founding father of the Franciscan order and patron saint of Italy, because he was drawn to his teachings.

Acutis was initially buried in a cemetery in Assisi, but when the canonization process began in 2019, his body was exhumed and, wearing jeans and sneakers, he was buried in a contemporary, transparent sarcophagus within the small church of the Sanctuary of the Pillage in a little-visited a part of town.

The following 12 months, 2020, over 117,000 pilgrims visited town despite the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. based on the Diocese of Assisi. It stays extremely popular; once I visited in June 2024, there have been long lines of individuals, especially children, from as distant because the United States and Sri Lanka, waiting to wish at his tomb.

In fact, because of Acutis, town of Assisi has undergone a sort of transformation. A contemporary chapel has been inbuilt the Cathedral of San Ruffino in Assisi, where Acutis' heart is kept. He receives equal appearance as St. Francis in guided toursEven souvenir stands have taken on a contemporary look: the ever present images of Saint Francis now share space with keychains, photos and pictures of Acutis in jeans, Adidas and a backpack.

Acutis continues the trend that the Catholic Church began with the canonization of Padre Pio to modernize piety. As an everlasting “Teenagers in Heaven”, laid to rest in Nikes, jeans and a tracksuit jacket, a tech-savvy and socially conscious generation of young Catholics could thoroughly recognize themselves in him.