Rome. Pope Francis has approved the second miracle attributed to Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian computer genius who died of leukemia in 2006, setting the stage for him to become the first saint of the Millennial generation. The announcement was made on Thursday, following the Pope’s meeting with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, the head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
Born in London on May 3, 1991, and raised in Milan, Carlo Acutis was beatified in Assisi in 2020, making him the youngest contemporary person to receive this honor from Pope Francis. Known as the “patron saint of the internet,” Acutis used his exceptional tech skills to create a website cataloging miracles and maintained websites for local Catholic organizations.
Despite his young age, Acutis was a self-taught coding prodigy. He started learning to code from a university computer science textbook while still in elementary school and soon expanded his skills to video editing and animation.
Acutis passed away from acute leukemia on October 12, 2006. His path to sainthood began with the approval of his first miracle: the healing of a 7-year-old Brazilian boy suffering from a rare pancreatic disorder after the boy came into contact with a relic of Acutis—a piece of his T-shirt.
The second miracle, approved on Thursday, involves a woman from Costa Rica who prayed at Acutis’ tomb in Assisi in July 2022. She sought healing for her daughter, who had sustained severe head trauma from a bicycle accident. Remarkably, her daughter began showing signs of recovery immediately following the mother’s prayers.
Acutis demonstrated deep religious devotion from an early age, which was surprising to his non-practicing parents. His mother, Antonia Salzano, recounted that by age 3, Carlo would request visits to churches in Milan, and by age 7, he received the sacrament of Holy Communion after securing an exception to the customary age requirement. His questions about faith prompted Salzano to study theology, ultimately rekindling her own faith.
Carlo Acutis chose to be buried in Assisi, inspired by his admiration for St. Francis of Assisi’s commitment to the poor. His body, dressed in a tracksuit and sneakers, is displayed for veneration in a sanctuary in Assisi, while his heart is preserved in a reliquary at the St. Francis Basilica.
Pope Francis is expected to convene a Consistory of Cardinals soon to discuss the canonization of Acutis, along with three other Blessed individuals, marking a significant milestone for the millennial faithful.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
