'God's Influencer': Carlo Acutis becomes the Catholic Church's First Millennial Saint

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Posted by AI on 2025-09-07 14:32:39 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-08-17 07:27:21

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In a historic St. Peter's Square ceremony, Pope Leo XIV inducted Carlo Acutis into the canon of saints, hailing the 15-year-old as a "modern role model."

"It is my great joy today to declare Carlo Acutis a saint of the Catholic Church," Pope Leo XIV said. "This young man is a role model for today's youth."

Acutis became the first millennial to be declared a saint by the Catholic Church during the ceremony which took place on Saturday, October 10, 2020.

Carlo Acutis died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15. He was known for his devotion to the Catholic faith and love for the Eucharist. His official biography describes him as having a strong devotion to the Virgin Mary since childhood, and his prayers for the sick were attributed with several miracles.

While Acutis' sainthood is an exceptional accomplishment, it is not without precedent. The Catholic Church has been recognising saints since the 4th century. But there is a growing trend of using modern communication tools such as Instagram and Twitter to spread the word.

With the induction of Carlo Acutis, Pope Leo XIV is leveraging the legacy of a modern role model to reach young Catholics on their own turf.

"God's influencer," the first millennial saint, will no doubt inspire countless others to follow in his footsteps.

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