A Modern Saint for the Digital Age
The Canonization of Saint Carlo Acutis
By Michael Antoon
On September 7, 2025, in Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV canonized a teenager laid to rest in a blue tracksuit and a pair of Nike sneakers. Saint Carlo Acutis—born in 1991 and returned to the bosom of the Lord at just 15—was declared a saint alongside now Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati.
The canonization made one thing unmistakably clear for us in the modern age: holiness is not reserved for bishops, priests, or nuns. It is attainable for us—here and now, in the middle of our ordinary, everyday lives. Reflecting on the canonization of Saint Carlo Acutis feels like a personal invitation from the Father Himself, calling each of us to remember and live out our primary vocation in this world: to become saints.
Who Was Saint Carlo Acutis?
Saint Carlo Acutis was born in London, England, on May 3, 1991, to Italian parents and raised in Milan, Italy. In many ways, he was an ordinary teenager. He loved coding, soccer, and playing video games. Yet behind that ordinary life was an extraordinary faith that quietly guided everything he did. From the time he received his First Holy Communion, Carlo attended daily Mass as often as possible. He had a deep and personal love for God, and even as a child, he found joy in praying the Rosary. Daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration became the center of his life, and leading others to Christ became part of his mission on earth.
His mother, Antonia Salzano, later shared that before Carlo, she had only gone to Mass for her First Communion, Confirmation, and wedding. Through her son’s faith, she rediscovered her own. Carlo’s au pair, Rajesh Mohur, even converted from Hinduism to Catholicism after Carlo taught him how to pray the Rosary and explained the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
At home in Milan, Carlo was known for his compassion—helping classmates who were struggling, bringing food to the homeless, and encouraging his friends to turn to God. When he was diagnosed with leukemia at just fifteen years old, he accepted his cross with peace, saying, “I offer all my suffering for the Pope and for the Church.”
Today, his body rests in Assisi’s Sanctuary of the Renunciation, visible beneath glass in the clothes he loved to wear—a blue tracksuit and Nike sneakers. Pilgrims from every corner of the world visit that shrine to encounter a saint who looks strikingly like the youth of today.
His Eucharistic Devotion and Mission
At the heart of Carlo’s life was a burning love for the Eucharist. He once said, “The Eucharist is my highway to heaven.” It wasn’t just a beautiful saying—it was how he lived. Every day, he arranged his schedule around attending Mass and spending time in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Carlo liked to say, “When we stand in the sun, we get a tan; but when we stand before the Lord in the Eucharist, we become saints.”
Long before anyone spoke about digital evangelization, Carlo used his computer skills to share his faith. He created a website cataloging Eucharistic miracles from around the world—collecting stories, photos, and Church documents that revealed the real presence of Christ. That project would later become a traveling exhibition displayed in parishes across the globe.
Carlo saw technology not as a distraction, but as a tool for mission. He believed that the internet could be used to spread goodness if we chose to fill it with light instead of darkness. In a world that often sees screens and social media as sources of division, he used them to strengthen others’ faith and bring people closer to God.
Carlo’s example reminds us that the Eucharist is not simply a part of our faith—it is the source and summit of it. Holiness does not begin with grand gestures, but in the quiet of daily encounters with Christ present in the tabernacle. Spending time with the Lord changes us; His presence sanctifies us, and His love shapes us.
The Miracle and Path to Canonization
Carlo’s journey toward sainthood began not long after his death in 2006, when stories of his kindness and faith began to spread quickly throughout Italy. People who had met him spoke of his joy, his humility, and his unwavering devotion to God— especially to the Blessed Sacrament. His cause for canonization was officially opened in 2013, and in 2020 he was beatified after the Church approved his first miracle—a young boy in Brazil who was miraculously healed of a rare pancreatic disorder after his mother prayed for Carlo’s intercession.
The second miracle, which opened the door to his canonization, took place in 2022. A university student from Costa Rica, studying in Florence, suffered a severe brain injury after a bicycle accident. Her mother traveled to Assisi and prayed fervently at Carlo’s tomb, entrusting her daughter’s life to his intercession. In the days that followed, the young woman’s condition began to improve dramatically. Doctors could not explain her recovery. The Vatican recognized it in 2024 as a miracle attributed to Carlo’s intercession.
On September 7, 2025, in Saint Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV canonized Carlo Acutis as a saint of the universal Church. The ceremony also included the canonization of Pier Giorgio Frassati, another young Italian known for his vibrant faith and love for the poor. It was a profound moment and an important reminder that holiness takes many forms but always points to the same source: Christ Himself.
Carlo’s canonization carries a special meaning for young people around the world. His life speaks directly to this generation: that sainthood is not something distant or outdated, but something living, possible, and meant for all of us.
Why His Life Resonates Today
Saint Carlo Acutis’s life continues to inspire countless young Catholics around the world. Even within our own Chaldean Church, his example has taken root. At St. John the Apostle Chaldean Catholic Church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, their parish youth group proudly bears his name: the Saint Carlo Acutis Youth Group. Fr. John Jwad chose this name to raise awareness among the young people of the parish that the Church now has a teenage saint—someone they can truly relate to.
As a deacon, Fr. John had the blessing of visiting Italy, where he was able to pray at the tomb of Saint Carlo. He shared with us how moving it was to see the body of this young boy, laid out in jeans and gym shoes— a powerful reminder of how holiness can be lived out in our modern world.
Three years later, after establishing St. John’s parish and founding a new youth group for English-speaking youth, he decided there was no better saint to guide and inspire the youth of his community. One of the very first meetings took place on the night of Saint Carlo’s canonization—a providential start to a new chapter.
He explains saying: “We pray that, in the years to come, our new saint will reach the hearts of our youth—many of whom are far from God—and lead them closer to Him through the power of the Eucharist. In honor of Saint Carlo’s deep love for the Blessed Sacrament, we begin every youth meeting with Eucharistic Adoration.”
What makes Saint Carlo’s life so powerful is how familiar it feels. He lived in almost the same fast-paced, digital world we do—a world filled with social media, distractions, and constant noise. Yet in the middle of all that, he managed to keep his eyes fixed on Christ. Carlo showed that holiness doesn’t mean escaping the world but transforming it from within. He made sanctity look possible, even amid screens, homework, and ordinary routines. His life bore witness that sanctity is attainable.
Carlo’s example reminds young people that holiness begins with small, intentional choices: showing kindness at school, putting faith before convenience, or simply spending time in prayer each day. He lived what he believed, not just online but in person—with his family, his classmates, and the poor.
In an age that often confuses success with self-promotion, Carlo’s humility stands as a quiet revolution. He didn’t seek attention or fame. He sought heaven—and in doing so, he captured the attention of the entire world.
The Call to Holiness
At the heart of Saint Carlo Acutis’ message is a simple truth—and though it may sound repetitive, it is worth repeating: holiness is possible for everyone. He often said, “To be always close to Jesus—that’s my life plan.” It was not a lofty goal reserved for the few; it was the daily life of someone who believed that being near Christ is what gives life its purpose.
Carlo’s life reminds us that holiness isn’t about perfection, but about presence— being present to God, to others, and to the moment in front of us. It’s choosing prayer over distraction, compassion over pride, and humility over recognition. His example challenges us to look at our own lives and ask: How can I grow closer to Christ in the small, ordinary moments of today? How can I, amidst my school, work, family, and struggles, glorify and draw near to God in humility?
Saint Carlo Acutis reminds us that sainthood is not a distant dream—it’s a daily invitation from the Lord. In his own words: “Our goal must be infinite, not the finite. The infinite is our homeland. Heaven has been waiting for us forever.”