Latest news Italian "cyber apostle" becomes a saint in 2025

Pope Francis will canonize Carlo Acutis, the Italian teenager who became known as the "cyber apostle", in April. The head of the Catholic Church announced this at the general audience in Rome.

The teenager and internet fan, who died of leukemia in 2006, will thus become the first saint from the millennial generation (people born between the early 80s and mid 90s).

During his lifetime, Acutis helped priests set up websites for their parishes. He set up an Internet database of religious miracles and promoted his faith online. His collection of "miracles" is still accessible on the Internet today. In the Italian media, he is therefore also known as the "cyber apostle" or "influencer of God". Acutis (1991-2006), who was born in London and died at the age of 15, was also very religious.

Carlo Acutis' grave in Assisi is a pilgrimage destination

Acutis was beatified in the Italian city of Assisi at the end of 2020. The reason for this was the miraculous healing of a Brazilian boy who also addressed his prayers to Acutis. In May of this year, the Pope then recognized the second miracle required for canonization, which Acutis is said to have performed. A young woman was inexplicably cured of an illness after praying to Acutis.

The beatification in 2020 and the upcoming canonization next April were preceded by years of commitment from his parents and high-ranking churchmen. The Catholic Church wants to become more attractive to young people in particular and is therefore looking for new role models of faith. Acutis has many followers worldwide - his grave in Assisi in Umbria is now a popular destination for Catholic pilgrims.

SDA