Vatican Moves Forward With First Millennial Saint

The Vatican announced on Thursday that Pope Francis had attributed a miracle to Carlo Acutis, a devout Italian teenager who succumbed to leukemia in 2006, thus paving the way for him to become the first millennial saint of the Catholic Church.

Carlo Acutis, born on May 3, 1991, in London and later moving to Milan with his family, exhibited a burgeoning interest in the Catholic faith from an early age, particularly in practices like the rosary. Despite not being raised in a particularly devout household, Carlo’s dedication to his faith was evident as he began attending Mass regularly near his elementary school at the tender age of 7. His fervor even led to the conversion of his mother, Antonia Salzano, who returned to the Catholic Church inspired by her son’s devoutness.

Described by those promoting his sainthood as a young boy who influenced his relatives and even his parents to attend Mass daily, Carlo’s commitment to his faith remained steadfast even when he was diagnosed with leukemia as a teenager. He passed away on October 12, 2006, at the age of 15.

Carlo’s affinity for technology, particularly his adeptness with computers, earned him the moniker of the patron saint of the internet within Catholic circles. Alongside his interests in video games and soccer, Carlo taught himself complex coding skills and utilized them to create a website documenting reported Eucharistic miracles before his untimely death.

After Carlo’s beatification by the Church in October 2020, his mother reflected on his impact, describing him as a beacon of light in the digital realm. She expressed hope that his life story would highlight the positive potential of the internet and recounted numerous accounts from individuals worldwide who claimed to have experienced miraculous healings after praying to her son.

Carlo’s journey towards sainthood was expedited following the Vatican’s recognition of two miracles attributed to him. The first involved the reported healing of a 3-year-old boy in Brazil from a congenital pancreatic deformity in 2013. The second miracle, attributed to Liliana from Costa Rica, involved her daughter’s recovery from a risky craniotomy surgery after praying for Carlo’s intercession in 2022.

Despite claims of his body’s preservation, the bishop of Assisi clarified that Carlo’s body had undergone decay. Nevertheless, his tomb in Assisi has become a site of pilgrimage for many seeking inspiration from his life.

While a date for Carlo Acutis’ canonization is yet to be determined, it could potentially take place as early as October, marking the culmination of his journey to sainthood.

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