Canonisation of Carlo Acutis
Carlo Acutis (03/05/91 – 12/10/06) was a British-born Italian teenager known for his devotion to the Eucharist, which became a core theme of his life prior to his death from leukaemia at the young age of 15 in 2006. In 2013, a cause for Carlo’s canonisation was opened. He was beatified by Pope Francis on 10 October 2020. After a second miracle attributed to his intercession was confirmed in May 2024, Pope Francis granted approval in July 2024 to continue forward with canonisation.
Carlo’s canonisation was to be celebrated on Sunday 27th April 2025 Divine Mercy Sunday, but due to the death of Pope Francis this celebration was deferred to Sunday 7th September 2025 when his canonisation, together with Pier Giorgio Frassati will be celebrated. You can join in the celebration through the Holy See website.
(go to Holy See and then click on Video in the top right corner)
Carlo’s body is interred in Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Italy where it can be visibly venerated. He is patron of Youth, The Internet, Computer Programmers, and Influencers. His Feast Day is October 12th.
St Carlo Acutis, pray for us
“To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan”
With these few words Carlo Acutis
outlines the distinguishing feature of his brief existence:
‘To live with Jesus, for Jesus, and in Jesus’
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Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati to be canonised together
(source Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV held the first Ordinary Public Consistory of his pontificate in June, with Cardinals giving their formal approval for the canonisations of eight Blesseds, including Blessed Carlo Acutis. During the ceremony, the Holy Father announced that Blessed Carlo Acutis will be canonised together with Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati on 7 September.
The canonisations of the two young saints – one from the early twentieth century, the other being the first twenty-first-century saint – have been greatly anticipated due to the great devotion among the faithful.
The canonisation of Acutis, who was beatified in Assisi on 10 October 2020, had originally been scheduled for 27 April, the Second Sunday of Easter, to coincide with the Jubilee of Teenagers, while Frassati’s canonisation had been set for 3 August, the culmination of the Jubilee for Youth.
The postponement of Blessed Carlo’s canonisation was announced on the day of Pope Francis’ death, 21 April, and it was widely assumed that Blessed Pier Giorgio’s canonisation would similarly be delayed.
Doubts about the timing of the canonisations were finally resolved by Pope Leo’s announcement, who has made the choice to enrol among the number of the saints two young men from different eras who led completely different lives, but who are nonetheless united in their love for Christ and their ability to impart that love to those whose lives they touched.
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Quotes by Carlo Acutis
‘Our aim is to be infinite and not finite. The infinite is our homeland. We have always been expected in Heaven.’
‘Jesus is my great friend and the Eucharist my highway to Heaven.’
‘All people are born as originals, but many die as photocopies.’
‘The only thing we have to ask God for, in prayer, is the desire to be holy.’
‘God is there for everyone. If you open your heart to Him, He will show you the way.’
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Miracles attributed to Carlo Acutis
The two miracles attributed to the intercession of Carlo involved the miraculous recoveries for a young boy in Brazil in 2013 with a pancreatic condition and a young woman in Florence in 2022 who suffered a severe brain injury. The recognition of these miracles by Pope Francis paved the way for Carlo’s canonisation as a saint.
Prayer for the Canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis
Oh God, Our Father,
thank you for giving us Carlo,
a life example for the young
and a message of love for everyone.
You made him become enamoured with
Your Son Jesus, Making of the Eucharist
his “Highway to Heaven”.
You gave him Mary, as a most loving Mother,
and, with the Rosary, you made him
a poet of her tenderness. Receive his prayer for us.
Above all, gaze upon the poor,
whom he loved and helped.
Grant for me too, by his intercession,
the grace that I need …
And make our joy fulfilled,
placing Carlo among the Saints
of your Church, so that his smile
may shine again for us in the glory of your name.
Amen
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to God
Imprimatur + Domenico Sorrentino
Bishop of Assisi, Nocera Umbra
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Carlo’s Life – Timeline
1991 – Carlo was born on 3 May in London. On 18 May he received the Sacrament of Baptism in the presence of his paternal and maternal grandparents, his aunt Adriana and his great-grandmother Adriana in the Church of Our Lady of Dolours. On 8 September, Carlo returns to Milan with his parents, who were in London for work obligations.
1995 – He attends the local public kindergarten, Parco Pagani, in Milan.
1997 – He begins elementary school at San Carlo Institute, but three months later, due to practical reasons, he transfers to the Tommaseo Institute run by the Sisters of Saint Marcellina, where he completes his elementary and middle school years.
1998 – On 16 June, having just turned seven, he receives his First Communion at the Convent of the Romite Sisters of Saint Ambrose in Perego.
2003 – On 24 May he receives the Sacrament of Confirmation in his parish church, Santa Maria Segreta.
2005 – In September he begins high school at the Jesuit run Leo XIII Institute.
2006 – On Monday 2 October, Carlo falls ill. At first it appears to be just an ordinary flu. On Sunday 8 October, Carlo’s condition dramatically deteriorates, and he is taken to De Marchi Clinic in Malin where he is diagnosed with M3 acute leukaemia.
On Monday 9 October, he is transferred to San Gerardo Hospital in Monza.
On Tuesday 10 October, Carlo requests to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion, certain that he would die.
On Wednesday 11 October, Carlo falls into a coma from a brain haemorrhage brought on by the acute leukaemia. Doctors declare him dead at 5:00 pm when all his brain activity ceases. His parents are unable to donate his organs to a young transplant patient because Carlo’s organs are compromised by the leukaemia.
On Thursday, 12 October, at 6:45 am Carlo’s heart stops beating. This is the time of his legal death. The funeral takes place on Saturday, 14 October, at Santa Maria Segreta Church. The Church is overcrowded with so many people that many have to remain outside.
2007 – In January Carlo’s body is transferred from Ternengo Cemetery in Piedmont to a cemetery in Assisi as Carlo had requested.
2012 – On 12 October the cause for Carlo’s Beatification and Canonisation is officially opened and he becomes a Servant of God.
2013 – On 13 May the Holy See’s Nihil Obstat approves Carlo’s Cause for Beatification and Canonisation.
2016 – On 24 November in the presence of Cardinal Angelo Scola, the Diocesan level for the Cause for Beatification and Canonisation of the Servant of God Carlo Acutis, ends at the Archbishopry of Milan.
2018 – On 5 July Pope Francis declares Carlo Venerable.
2019 – On 23 January Carlo’s body is exhumed. On 6 April Carlo’s body is translated to the Shrine of Renunciation in Assisi.
2020 – On 10 October Carlo is beatified in Assisi.
2025 – On 7 September Blessed Carlo will be canonised a Saint.
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