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Meet Carlo Acutis, the World’s First Millennial Saint
Holiness in the Digital Era: The Rise of Carlo Acutis, God’s Influencer
On Sunday, history was made at the Vatican. Among the ancient rituals and timeless traditions of the Catholic Church, a fresh face was welcomed into the ranks of sainthood, jeans, sneakers, and all. Carlo Acutis, affectionately known as “God’s Influencer”, has officially become the first millennial saint in Catholic history.
This isn’t your usual saintly story of monks, martyrs, or cloistered mystics. Carlo was a teenager who loved soccer, enjoyed video games, and made funny “Star Wars”-style films of his cats and dogs. Yet, in just 15 short years of life, he left a digital and spiritual legacy so powerful that it continues to inspire millions around the globe.
The Teen Who Turned the Internet Into a Tool for Faith
Born in London in 1991 to a wealthy Italian family, Carlo grew up in Milan. By all accounts, he was a normal teenager, he loved sports, had a good sense of humor, and like most kids his age, enjoyed time on his PlayStation. But unlike most teenagers, Carlo made a conscious decision to limit his gaming to just one hour a week, choosing instead to pour his energy into something bigger: using his computer skills to evangelize.
At a time when the internet was still in its early boom, Carlo set up a website documenting reported miracles, particularly those connected to the Eucharist, the Catholic belief that bread and wine at Mass truly become the body and blood of Christ. His digital catalog became one of the most visited online resources on the subject. That’s how the nickname “God’s Influencer” stuck. Long before Instagram stars and TikTok creators flooded our feeds, Carlo was showing the world how the internet could be used not for vanity, but for purpose.
What makes Carlo different, and why so many young Catholics feel drawn to him, is that he didn’t fit the traditional “saintly image.” Forget paintings of solemn faces in flowing robes. Carlo is remembered in T-shirts, sneakers, and casual jackets. His tomb in Assisi even displays him in jeans and Nike trainers, making him look less like a holy figure from centuries past and more like someone you might bump into at a coffee shop.
His mother, Antonia Salzano, believes her son resonates with today’s youth because his life reflected the struggles and choices young people face in a digital world. “Carlo is a message of hope,” she says. “He used to say that all are born original, but many die as photocopies. Each of us has a mission, a purpose, and if we don’t live it, we risk becoming a copy of someone else.”
Carlo’s journey from teenager to saint was unusually swift. Normally, canonizations take decades, even centuries. The Church requires verified miracles attributed to the candidate’s intercession, with medical and theological experts combing through evidence.
In Carlo’s case, the Vatican recognized two miracles:
- The healing of a Brazilian boy born with a birth defect who couldn’t eat normally.
- The recovery of a Costa Rican student who suffered a severe head injury in Florence.
Both families claimed their prayers to Carlo were answered in inexplicable, life-changing ways. But not everyone is convinced. Some theologians argue that the Church rushed his canonization to appeal to young people and worry that emphasizing “Eucharistic miracles” can encourage superstition. Still, the Vatican pressed ahead, canonizing Carlo alongside Pier Giorgio Frassatti, another youthful figure who died in 1925.
Carlo’s sainthood arrives at a critical moment. The Catholic Church is facing one of its most challenging eras: ongoing scandals, a widening credibility crisis, and declining engagement among younger generations in the West. And yet, there are signs of renewal. Surveys show that Gen Z is showing fresh curiosity about Catholicism, especially in the U.S. and Europe. Carlo, with his approachable story and internet-savvy background, may be exactly the kind of figure who can bridge the gap between tradition and modernity.
During the canonization, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, presided over the ceremony in St. Peter’s Square, where thousands of young people waved flags and banners with Carlo’s image. The celebration wasn’t just solemn; it was joyful, almost festival-like, signaling a new energy around the faith.
Carlo’s Legacy: Holiness Is Possible for Everyone
For many, the most powerful part of Carlo’s story isn’t the miracles or the canonization. It’s his reminder that holiness doesn’t require isolation, wealth, or perfection. It requires intention.
He wasn’t raised in a particularly religious household, yet he developed an unshakable devotion to God. He used his allowance to help the homeless, defended classmates from bullies, and supported peers dealing with broken families. His influence was quiet but unmistakable.
As his mother puts it: “His life shows that holiness is possible for everyone, and that it’s not only for some people.” That message resonates especially with young Catholics like Gary Friesen, a 19-year-old from Canada, who said, “He liked the internet and social media like I do. I feel closer to him because he was just like us.”
The canonization of Carlo Acutis is more than just a religious milestone. It’s a cultural moment, one that says sainthood is no longer locked in the pages of history but can look like the teenager sitting in your classroom, the gamer next door, or even the influencer on your feed. In a world often weighed down by online negativity, addiction, and division, Carlo’s story is a reminder that technology, when used with purpose, can be a force for good. His life tells us that holiness doesn’t mean abandoning modern life, it means elevating it.
Whether you’re Catholic or not, Carlo Acutis challenges all of us to think about how we use our time, our gifts, and yes, even our devices. Do we use them to distract ourselves, or to make an impact?
