A Modern Teen Saint: Carlo Acutis and Youth in the Church

On 7 September 2025 Pope Leo XIV canonized Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. Carlo Acutis has been called 'God's Influencer' because he used computers to promote the Catholic faith. He died at 15 in 2006 and was beatified in 2020. A second miracle attributed to his intercession was recognized by Pope Francis on 23 May 2024, which opened the way to his sainthood.

Although the ceremony was first planned for April 27, it was postponed when Pope Francis died on 21 April 2025. The Vatican later set the canonization for 7 September 2025 and issued a notice that the Mass would begin at 10:00. Many young pilgrims had been preparing to attend the Jubilee events in Rome, and Acutis' tomb in Assisi has been a frequent destination for visitors. The church has presented both young men as modern models of faith, while some commentators have reflected on the speed of the process. Therefore the canonization has become a moment for discussion about youth, technology and religious life. Cardinals voted in an Ordinary Public Consistory to approve the canonizations.