The planned canonization of Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, has been postponed following the passing of Pope Francis. Scheduled for the upcoming Sunday in St. Peter’s Square during the Jubilee celebration for adolescents, the event will now be rescheduled. In the lead-up to this significant occasion, many faithful have been visiting Assisi, Italy, where Acutis’ body is displayed in a shrine, dressed in sneakers, jeans, and a sweatshirt. Acutis passed away at the age of 15 in northern Italy in 2006 after a brief battle with leukemia.
The journey toward sainthood for Acutis began over a decade ago, initiated by a group of priests and friends, and officially commenced shortly after Pope Francis assumed the papacy in 2013. In 2018, the church recognized Acutis’ virtuous life, naming him “venerable,” and his body was moved to a shrine in Assisi’s Santuario della Spogliazione, a site significant to the life of St. Francis. Acutis was declared “blessed” in 2020 after a miraculous healing was attributed to his intercession—a child’s recovery in Brazil from a condition deemed “scientifically inexplicable.”
Last year, the church recognized a second miracle credited to Acutis, involving the complete healing of a Costa Rican student in Italy from severe head trauma sustained in a bicycle accident. This recovery occurred after the student’s mother prayed at Acutis’ tomb. Acutis was known for his technological skills, having created an online exhibit detailing over 100 church-recognized eucharistic miracles, emphasizing the Catholic belief in Christ’s presence in consecrated bread and wine. He also devoted time to teaching catechism and assisting the homeless.
Despite the postponement of the canonization, the Mass for adolescents will proceed, expected to draw tens of thousands of participants. This event is part of a year-long Holy Year celebration that began in December. The Vatican has confirmed that the celebrations will continue with some modifications.
