On September 7, tens of thousands of worshippers filled St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City to witness a historic moment: Pope Leo XIV officially canonized Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian teenager who died of leukemia in 2006, as the first saint of Generation Y.
Born in London in 1991 and raised in Milan, Acutis was celebrated as the “Apostle of the Internet” or “God’s Influencer” for using technology and his self-taught programming skills to spread the Catholic faith online. Despite his short life, his impact has reached far beyond traditional images of sainthood.
An estimated 80,000 young people attended the canonization Mass, many viewing Carlo as a modern and relatable role model. Unlike the traditional depictions of Catholic saints, Acutis’s preserved body rests in a glass tomb in Assisi, Italy—dressed in jeans and Nike sneakers, his usual attire.
“Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati and Saint Carlo Acutis are a call to all of us, especially the young, not to waste our lives but to lift them higher and make them a masterpiece,” Pope Leo XIV said in his homily.
Carlo’s mother, Antonia Salzano, who attended the ceremony with her family, movingly shared: “My son is proof that we are all called to be saints—each of us in our own unique way.”
Acutis was known for his daily devotion to the Mass and acts of kindness—defending bullied classmates, bringing food and sleeping bags to the homeless, and sharing warmth with those in need. At the same time, his passion for video games and technology inspired him to create an online archive documenting Eucharistic miracles, a project that continues to inspire young Catholics worldwide.
The canonization of Carlo Acutis marks not only a milestone for the Catholic Church but also a powerful reminder of how a teenage programmer became a saint for the digital age.
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Source: Vietnam Insider