God’s Influencer: Carlo Acutis to be Canonised as First Millennial Saint

Carlo Acutis: The First Millennial to Be Canonised

Carlo Acutis, a London-born teenager, will be canonised as a saint on April 26, 2024. He earned the nickname “God’s influencer” for his skills in sharing faith online. Carlo died at age 15 from leukaemia in 2006.

He will be the first millennial saint in the Catholic Church. Pope Francis attributed a second miracle to him, paving the way for his canonisation. Carlo is also known as “the patron saint of the internet,” as he documented miracles online and created websites for Catholic groups.

In 2020, Carlo was beatified for healing a Brazilian child with a congenital disease. Although he was born in the UK, he lived in Monza, Italy, where he died. His body was moved to Assisi, where it is displayed with his relics.

Carlo gained his nickname by designing websites for his parish and school. He launched a website to document Eucharistic miracles. This site became available just days before his death. It has been translated into many languages and inspired an international exhibition.

For sainthood, a person needs two verified miracles. Miracles require acts beyond natural explanation, like sudden healings. Carlo’s second attributed miracle occurred in 2024. A university student in Florence was healed of brain bleeding after head trauma.

Pope Francis announced the canonisation during a Vatican event, celebrating Carlo’s impact on faith and the internet.