Raphael Kanu
The Catholic Church on Sunday officially canonized Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, elevating them to sainthood in a solemn ceremony at St. Peter’s Square. The canonization Mass, celebrated by Pope Leo XIV, drew tens of thousands of pilgrims, clergy, and world leaders, marking one of the most significant events of the Church’s liturgical calendar this year.
The Pope, in his homily, described the two new saints as “models of youthful faith and ordinary holiness,” stressing that their lives demonstrate how devotion to God and service to humanity can sanctify everyday living. “They remind us that holiness is not reserved for the few, but is a call for all,” the pontiff said to the applause of pilgrims.
Carlo Acutis: The Millennial Saint
Carlo Acutis, born in London in 1991 but raised in Milan, was known for his deep Eucharistic devotion and his remarkable use of technology to spread Catholic faith. Before his death from leukemia in 2006 at just 15 years old, he created a website documenting Eucharistic miracles across the world.
Acutis’s canonization followed the Vatican’s confirmation of two miracles attributed to his intercession. The first was the healing of a Brazilian boy suffering from a rare pancreatic disorder in 2013, while the second involved the recovery of an Italian student who survived a severe brain injury in 2022 after his family prayed through Acutis.
Often referred to as the “patron saint of the internet generation,” Acutis has become a global inspiration for young Catholics, drawing thousands of pilgrims annually to his tomb in Assisi.
Pier Giorgio Frassati: The Man of the Beatitudes
Pier Giorgio Frassati, born in Turin in 1901 to a wealthy family, dedicated his short life to helping the poor and marginalized. Despite his privileged background, he was known for spending time in the slums, advocating for workers’ rights, and supporting Catholic Action movements. He contracted polio—believed to have been caught during his service among the sick—and died in 1925 at the age of 24.
Frassati was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1990, who called him “the man of the Beatitudes.” A second miracle attributed to his intercession—the sudden healing of a woman in Argentina suffering from critical lung disease—was confirmed by the Vatican in 2024, paving the way for his canonization.
The canonization of Acutis and Frassati brings the total number of Catholic saints officially recognized to over 11,000. Both figures are particularly noted for their appeal to young Catholics: Acutis as a digital-age evangelizer and Frassati as a model of Catholic social action.
Pilgrims from Italy, Brazil, Argentina, and beyond attended the ceremony waving flags and chanting hymns, while bishops and priests from more than 50 countries co-celebrated the Mass. In Assisi and Turin, special vigils and thanksgiving Masses were held simultaneously to mark the historic occasion.
Catholic commentators say the canonizations reflect Pope Leo XIV’s emphasis on “ordinary sanctity”—highlighting individuals whose holiness emerged through everyday faith rather than extraordinary roles in the Church.