‘God’s Influencer’ Carlo Acutis Becomes First Millennial Saint 20 Years Later

Carlo Acutis has become the first millennial saint part of the Catholic Church.

Acutis, who died of leukemia at the age of 15 in 2006, was canonized in a ceremony led by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square outside the Vatican on Sunday, Sept. 7.

Thousands watched as Acutis was declared a Saint alongside Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassatti, who died in 1925 at age 24.

Acutis, the British-born teenager, who has since become known as “God’s influencer,” was a web designer and member of the Catholic Church. He used his computing skills to educate others on Eucharistic miracles, according to the BBC News.

Born on May 3, 1991, Carlo has now made history as the Church’s first millennial saint. He lies in a tomb wearing a sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers — a contrast to the clothing of the saints that preceded him — CNN reported.

In July 2024, it was confirmed that the late Pope Francis had approved Carlo for sainthood, one month after he attributed a second miracle to the teen. Carlo’s first miracle was recorded in 2020, when a Brazilian boy was healed after his mother prayed in his name, according to CNN.

Pope Leo said at the ceremony on Sept. 7, per AFP News Agency, “By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ … and our own, after matured liberation and with divine assistance frequently implored, and with the council of many of our Brothers, we declare and define blessed Pierre Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis to be Saints.”

“And we enroll them in the catalogue of the Saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated with pious devotion in the whole church,” he continued.

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Carlo’s mother, Antonia Salzano Acutis, revealed ahead of the ceremony that her son comes from a line of saints, after two nuns in the family were canonized back in the 19th and 20th century, the U.K. newspaper The Times reported.

“He’s just like us … a regular teenage guy and he had the same interests,” one young supporter told CNN of the new saint. “He liked sports [and] the internet, of course. And so he really just represents young people.”

“I feel like I have a closer connection to him,” another teenager told the outlet, adding: “I have the same hobbies as him and on Instagram, I try to spread the gospel as best as I can.”