Carlo Acutis, a tech-savvy teen and avid gamer, utilized his abilities to promote the Catholic faith in the digital world
The Vatican has declared an Italian teenager, who used his computer skills to promote the faith online and was known as “God’s Influencer,” as the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint.
Carlo Acutis, who passed away from leukemia in 2006 at the young age of 15, garnered a global youth following as a pioneer in bringing the Catholic faith into the digital era. During his illness, he developed a multilingual website documenting Eucharistic miracles – incidents where believers claim that the bread and wine consecrated during Mass transform into the actual body and blood of Christ.
“He naturally integrated prayer, sports, academics, and acts of charity into his daily life as a child and young man,” the Pope stated while leading Mass in Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Sunday.
Acutis was canonized alongside Pier Giorgio Frassatti, who died in 1925 at the age of 24 and is remembered for his dedication to serving the poor and his involvement in Catholic organizations.
Some critics have expressed reservations about the decision, suggesting that Acutis placed too much emphasis on Eucharistic miracles while neglecting other facets of the faith.
“It appears to me that there is an attempt to guide the Church toward a highly problematic devotion and a pursuit of ‘special signs,’” Andrea Grillo, a professor at the Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant’Anselmo, told CNN on Sunday. Seeking miracles is “not a virtue,” he added.
In recent months, the Vatican has intensified its efforts to connect with younger demographics and broaden its digital presence. In July, it organized a digital evangelism conference that attracted over 1,000 Catholic influencers.
Several of these social media personalities attracted followers not only through their Catholic teachings but also through their physical appearance. These clerics were jokingly referred to as “hot priests” by fans and news outlets.
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