Londoner Among Thousands Witnessing Historic Canonization of First Millennial Saint
VATICAN CITY – Carlo Acutis, a British-Italian teenager who died in 2006, was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church on Sunday, marking the first time a millennial has received the honor. The ceremony, originally scheduled for April 27th, was delayed following the death of Pope Francis the previous week, drawing a unique confluence of mourners and faithful to Rome. Among those present was Diego Sarkissian, a young Catholic from London, who had travelled for the canonization but instead joined the tens of thousands attending the late pontiff’s funeral.
The canonization of Acutis, approved after Pope Francis attributed two miracles to his intercession, is widely seen as an effort by the Vatican to connect with younger generations.unlike traditional portrayals of sainthood,Acutis’s life – marked by a devotion to the eucharist and a passion for computers and video games – resonates with contemporary youth. His mother, Antonia Salzano, has spent years advocating for his canonization.
Acutis’s path to sainthood was remarkably swift, taking less than two decades – a fraction of the time often required. This expedited process suggests a deliberate strategy to inspire faith among young people, presenting a relatable figure who embraced both spirituality and modern technology.
“He used to play Super Mario video games on the old Nintendo consoles and I’ve always loved video games,” said Sarkissian. “The fact that you can think of a saint doing the same things [as you], wearing jeans, it feels so much closer than what other saints have felt like in the past.”
Born in London in 1991 to Italian parents, Carlo Acutis moved to Milan with his family as a young child. He developed a keen interest in computers and coding, using his skills to create a website cataloging Eucharistic miracles. he was diagnosed with leukemia at age 14 and offered his suffering for the Pope and the Church. He died in 2006, and his remains are enshrined in a glass case in the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary in Assisi, Italy.
