Carlo Acutis was initially set to be canonized by the late Pope Francis in April, but the ceremony was postponed due to the Pope’s death on April 21.
Now, Pope Leo XIV has announced that the first Millennial saint will be canonized in the coming weeks. Earlier this month, during his first public consistory since being elected in May, the new Pope officially approved the canonization of eight individuals, including Carlo Acutis.
Acutis, who was born in London to Italian parents, spent most of his life in Milan. He was known for his strong faith and commitment to the Catholic Church, as well as his efforts to support those in need.
The teenager received his first communion as he was seven and regularly donated money to the poor as a child.
Acutis spent his evenings cooking hot meals for the homeless as he was old enough, and earned the nickname ‘God’s influencer’, because of his affinity for tech.
He passed away when he was 15 from leukaemia in 2006, but has been considered for sainthood after the Vatican determined he was behind two unexplainable miracles.
Vatican officials found out that the teen had helped a two-year-old Brazilian boy, Matheus Vianna, recover from a de.adl.y disease.
Vianna was diagnosed with congenital disorder annular pancreas, which saw his mom turn to the church for help.
She received help from Father Marcelo Tenorio, who was blessing Acutis’ body as part of the pre-canonization stage, who touched a piece of the teen’s clothing to the toddler and asked for him to be healed.
According to Vianna’s family, after the incident, he was never sick again.
Also, the Vatican deemed Acutis responsible for another miracle when Costa Rican woman Valeria Valverde, who had suffered a brain haemorrhage after a serious crash, started to breathe again.
Valverde’s mom had prayed at Acutis’ coffin, and the woman was later discharged from hospital after medics said her brain haemorrhage had fully gone.
The late teen’s body has been preserved for the past 19 years, and was due to receive his sainthood from Pope Francis.
According to protocol for when a pope d.ies, many vital Catholic Church functions closed and shuttered.
Acutis’ canonization has been in the works for almost two decades since his death – it will now go ahead on September 7.
Pope Leo said Acutis will be canonised along with Pier Giorgio Frassati, who died at the age of 24 after contracting polio while helping the sick.