THE 15-YEAR-OLD COMPUTER GENIUS ACHIEVED SAINTHOOD: Body remains nearly perfectly preserved 17 years after death, performing miracles for devotees

On September 7, 2025, the Catholic Church made history by canonizing Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian computer prodigy who died in 2006, as its first millennial saint. Known as “God’s Influencer” and the “saint in jeans,” Acutis’ journey from a tech-savvy teenager to a revered figure in St. Peter’s Square has captivated millions. His story blends modern technology, profound faith, and two Vatican-recognized miracles, sparking a global conversation about holiness in the digital age. For Facebook’s faithful and curious alike, Acutis’ canonization offers a compelling narrative of a young man who used his talents to spread God’s love, leaving a legacy that resonates with today’s youth. This analysis dives into Acutis’ life, the miracles attributed to him, and the cultural impact of his sainthood, drawing on Vatican reports, media coverage, and social media buzz to explore why this “cyber apostle” is a beacon for modern Catholics.

The Life of Carlo Acutis: A Teen with a Mission

Born on May 3, 1991, in London to Italian parents, Carlo Acutis moved to Milan as an infant and grew up in a moderately religious household. Despite his parents’ lukewarm faith, Acutis developed a deep devotion to the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary from a young age. By age seven, after his First Communion, he attended daily Mass and prayed the Rosary regularly, a practice that shaped his life. His compassion shone through in acts like donating pocket money to the poor, defending bullied classmates, and volunteering at soup kitchens.

Acutis was also a tech prodigy. Self-taught in coding, he built websites for his parish, school, and the Pontifical Academy “Cultorum Martyrum.” His most notable project was a website cataloging over 150 Eucharistic miracles worldwide, launched in 2004 after two and a half years of work with his family. This digital “museum” of miracles, translated into multiple languages, aimed to strengthen faith in the Eucharist’s real presence. Acutis balanced his tech passion with discipline, limiting his PlayStation use to an hour weekly, and warned friends about the internet’s dual nature as both a blessing and a potential danger. Diagnosed with leukemia in 2006, he offered his suffering for Pope Benedict XVI and the Church, passing away on October 12 at age 15. His funeral drew crowds, including many poor people he had quietly helped.

The Miracles: From Brazil to Italy

The path to sainthood in the Catholic Church requires rigorous investigation, including two verified miracles—typically inexplicable healings. Acutis’ first miracle occurred in 2013 in Campo Grande, Brazil. A four-year-old boy, Mattheus Vianna, suffered from a rare pancreatic malformation called annular pancreas, leaving him malnourished at 9 kilograms and unable to keep food down. His mother, Luciana Vianna, and priest Marcelo Tenorio prayed for Acutis’ intercession. On October 12, 2013, during a prayer service, Mattheus touched a relic of Acutis—a piece of his clothing—and prayed to “stop vomiting so much.” Remarkably, he began eating normally that day, requesting solid foods like fries and steak. Medical exams confirmed his pancreas was fully healed, a recovery doctors could not explain. The Vatican, after a thorough investigation, recognized this as Acutis’ first miracle, leading to his beatification on October 10, 2020, in Assisi.

The second miracle involved Valeria Valverde, a 21-year-old Costa Rican student in Florence, Italy. On July 2, 2022, Valverde suffered a severe head injury in a bicycle accident, with doctors giving her a low chance of survival. Her mother, Liliana, prayed at Acutis’ tomb in Assisi on July 8, leaving a letter of supplication. That same day, Valverde began breathing independently, and by the next day, she could walk and speak. Two months later, she was fully recovered, with no trace of the brain hemorrhage. The Vatican’s Medical Council and Pope Francis confirmed this as Acutis’ second miracle on May 23, 2024, paving the way for his canonization.

The Canonization Process and Vatican Validation

The Catholic Church’s canonization process is meticulous, involving multiple stages: Servant of God, Venerable, Blessed, and Saint. Acutis’ cause began in 2013 when Cardinal Angelo Scola opened the diocesan investigation, naming him a Servant of God. In 2018, Pope Francis declared him Venerable, recognizing his heroic virtue. The first miracle in Brazil led to his beatification in 2020, presided over by Cardinal Agostino Vallini in Assisi. The second miracle in 2022, verified by medical and theological experts, prompted Pope Francis to approve Acutis’ canonization on July 1, 2024, with the ceremony held by Pope Leo XIV on September 7, 2025, during a Mass attended by 80,000 pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square.

Acutis’ relics, including his preserved body displayed in a glass tomb in Assisi’s Santa Maria Maggiore church, dressed in jeans and sneakers, and his heart in a gold casket in San Rufino Cathedral, have become pilgrimage focal points. Over 1 million visitors flocked to Assisi in 2024, drawn by his relatable image and digital legacy. His body, treated with preservation techniques but not incorrupt as rumored, symbolizes his modernity, resonating with young Catholics.

Cultural Impact: A Saint for the Digital Age

Acutis’ canonization as the first millennial saint has sparked a cultural phenomenon. Nicknamed “God’s Influencer,” he appeals to youth through his love for video games, soccer, and technology, paired with his profound faith. His website on Eucharistic miracles, still active, has inspired exhibitions in thousands of parishes across five continents. Social media platforms like X buzz with devotion, with posts like, “Blessed Carlo, thank you for interceding for my pregnancy at 43!” reflecting his global reach. His image on mugs, T-shirts, and rosaries underscores his pop-star-like appeal.

The Church sees Acutis as a model for engaging the digital world positively, countering its risks with faith-driven content. His canonization alongside Pier Giorgio Frassati, another young saint, highlights the Vatican’s push to inspire millennials. As one X user noted, “Carlo shows holiness isn’t stuck in the past—it’s for us, now, in sneakers and jeans.” His story challenges stereotypes of sanctity, proving that ordinary teens can achieve extraordinary holiness.

Carlo Acutis’ canonization on September 7, 2025, marks a historic moment for the Catholic Church, introducing its first millennial saint—a teenager who merged faith and technology to inspire millions. From his compassionate acts and tech innovations to the miracles in Brazil and Italy, Acutis’ life proves that holiness is timeless, accessible even in the digital age. For Facebook’s global community, his story is a call to action: use your talents, however modern, to spread love and faith. As his relics draw pilgrims and his website continues to educate, Acutis remains a beacon of hope, showing that sainthood isn’t reserved for ancient martyrs but can shine through a kid in jeans. Share your thoughts below: How does Carlo’s story inspire you? Let’s celebrate this “saint of the internet” together!