British teenager Carlo Acutis, who died at 15, will be canonized as the first millennial saint after two unexplainable miracles. Discover his incredible journey to sainthood.
Carlo Acutis, a British teenager known for his deep faith and connection with God, is set to become the first millennial saint in a historic canonization ceremony by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. Acutis, who passed away at the young age of 15, has been recognized for performing two miracles that the Vatican deemed unexplainable, paving the way for his sainthood.
Born in London and raised in Milan, Italy, Acutis was dedicated to the Catholic Church and had a strong commitment to helping those less fortunate. From a young age, he was actively involved in charitable work, regularly donating money to the poor and later cooking hot meals for the homeless.
Acutis was known for his strong devotion to Jesus, often expressing his desire to always be close to Him. At the age of seven, he wrote, “My life plan is to be always close to Jesus,” a sentiment that would guide his life.
In 2006, Acutis tragically passed away from leukemia, but his legacy has only grown stronger since then. His preserved body, dressed in jeans and trainers, lies in a glass tomb in Assisi, Italy, where it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Acutis’ beatification process began after the Vatican investigated the miracles attributed to him.
On Sunday, September 7, he will be officially canonized by Pope Leo XIV, making him the first millennial to be declared a saint in the Catholic Church.
The Miracles of Carlo Acutis
The first miracle attributed to Acutis occurred in Brazil. A two-year-old boy named Matheus Vianna was diagnosed with a rare congenital disorder known as annular pancreas, where pancreatic tissue forms a ring around the small intestine. Vianna’s mother sought help from the Church, and during a pre-canonization blessing, Father Marcelo Tenorio touched a piece of Acutis’ clothing to the child, praying for his healing. According to the family, after this event, Matheus was never sick again.
The second miracle attributed to Acutis involved a woman named Valeria Valverde, who had suffered a brain hemorrhage following a crash. After praying at Acutis’ tomb, Valverde’s mother claimed that her daughter’s brain hemorrhage healed completely, as confirmed by doctors. Valverde was later discharged from the hospital, and the Vatican considered this miraculous recovery as another sign of Acutis’ intercession.
Although Acutis’ canonization was originally scheduled for April, it was delayed due to the death of Pope Francis. However, with the upcoming ceremony on September 7, Pope Leo XIV will perform his first canonization since his election earlier this year, making this event particularly significant for both the Church and the Catholic faithful worldwide.
