The canonisation of Carlo Acutis — the beloved "God’s Influencer" and first millennial saint-to-be — has been postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. Acutis, a British-born Italian teenager who died of leukaemia at the age of 15, was slated to be canonised on April 27 during the Jubilee of Adolescents. The Vatican has officially suspended the ceremony, as announced by the Pope's Press Office.
Carlo’s journey to sainthood has been remarkable. A tech-savvy teen who learned to code at a young age, he developed websites for his parish. He created a digital catalog of over 100 eucharistic miracles — blending faith with modern technology in a way that deeply resonated with young Catholics around the world. His humility, spiritual maturity, and compassion stood out even more. He regularly attended daily Mass, prayed the rosary, volunteered with the poor, and was known for his deep love for the Eucharist.
His tomb in Assisi, where his body lies in jeans and a hoodie — how he dressed in real life — has become a major pilgrimage site. Over a million people visited it last year alone, with many teenagers from across the globe especially inspired by his faith and relatability. The Vatican had planned to host over 80,000 teens from 15 countries, including India, for the ceremony in Rome.
Carlo’s sainthood was made possible after two miracles were officially recognised by the Vatican:
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A young Brazilian boy was healed of a pancreatic disorder after touching one of Carlo's T-shirts.
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A Costa Rican student who miraculously recovered from a life-threatening head injury after the student's mother prayed at Carlo’s tomb.
Once canonised, Carlo will become the Catholic Church’s first saint born in the millennial generation — a significant milestone in a Church with a rich but ancient canon of saints. His simple life, digital evangelism, and youthful joy have touched people of all ages, and his canonisation is widely seen as a moment that could help bridge the gap between tradition and modernity in Catholicism.
Now, as the Church prepares for a leadership transition after Pope Francis’s death, the world waits — first for a new pontiff, then for a new, and very modern, saint.
