The young Italian Carlo Acutis, who passed away in 2006, will be elevated to the altars by Pope Francis, becoming the first "millennial saint" of the Catholic Church on April 27. Throughout his life, Carlo demonstrated that faith can be an integral part of daily life and that even teenagers can be examples of kindness and devotion.
Acutis, born in 1991, left a profound mark on the Catholic faith and his community despite not coming from a practicing Catholic family. His miracle that led him to the altars occurred when a 21-year-old woman with severe brain trauma began to show signs of inexplicable improvement after her mother prayed at Carlo's tomb in Assisi, Italy.
Carlo's story is particularly significant, as unlike other saints known for being martyrs or for living extraordinary lives in past eras, Carlo lived in a modern context accessible to current generations. According to Juan Carlos Carredano, executive producer of the film about his life, Carlo is a role model because "he is a saint of the ordinary," performing everyday acts of kindness and sharing his faith through the internet.
Carlo Acutis combined his passion for technology with his faith, becoming a "God influencer." A fan of video games, ice cream, and new technologies, he used the internet to spread Eucharistic miracles recognized by the Catholic Church through his own website. From a young age, he showed unwavering devotion to Christ and the Virgin Mary, performing acts of charity and caring for the most needy.
The animated film "Carlo Acutis, the God Influencer," which will premiere on the same day as his canonization, aims to inspire new generations, especially young people, showing that sainthood is not beyond their reach. The canonization ceremony at the Vatican is expected to be attended by Carlo's mother and other close people.
