London-born teenager to become Catholic Church’s first millennial saint

london-born teenager to become catholic church’s first millennial saint

A tapestry featuring a portrait of Carlo Acutis hangs at the St. Francis Basilica during the beatification ceremony of 2020 - Vatican/Getty

A London-born teenager is to become the Roman Catholic Church’s first millennial saint.

Carlo Acutis, who was born in 1991 and died of leukaemia aged 15, has been suggested as a patron saint of the internet owing to his passion for computer programming and building websites.

On Thursday, the Pope decreed that a second posthumous miracle had been attributed to Acutis, meaning he is eligible for canonisation.

Previously the most recent birth date of the 912 people canonised by Pope Francis was 1926.

Acutis was born in London to an Italian mother and a half-Italian, half-English father who was a banker, but the family moved to Milan when he was a young child.

Antonia Salzano said her son was devout from a young age, taking daily communion, helping classmates whose parents were getting divorced, challenging bullies targeting disabled students, and donating meals and sleeping bags to the homeless.

He also created a webpage that documented suspected miracles that had occurred around the world.

The teenager died in 2006 following a leukaemia diagnosis, but is said to have told his parents: “I’m happy to die because I’ve lived my life without wasting even a minute of it doing things that wouldn’t have pleased God.”

He has since built a worldwide following of devotees who view him as a role model for modern youth.

The Catholic religion teaches that you can pray to the dead and ask them to speak to God on your behalf, with many hoping to be cured of illness or injury.

If that person then recovers in the face of slim odds, the Vatican can class it as a miracle.

If two miracles are attributed to someone who is dead and the two events are validated by the Pope, then the deceased qualifies for sainthood.

Role model to young

Upon the initial announcement of Acutis being considered for canonisation, Ms Salzano told The Times: “Sometimes these beautiful [saints] are all very old and used to live in a very different world so young people don’t feel so close to them.

“Carlo was young and handsome and always smiling and was a computer genius and would play on his PlayStation and Game Boy. To have a saint that played with the same things as you do is something that really touches these young people.”

In 2020 the Catholic Church dispatched its Medical Council of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, which investigates the validity of miracles in 2020, to Brazil after it was claimed a child was cured of a rare genetic pancreatic disease in 2013 after praying to Acutis.

The Pope gave his seal of approval to the miracle, which led to Acutis being beatified in 2020.

This is the penultimate step on the road to sainthood and led to Acutis being granted the title “Blessed”.

The specialist unit has now looked into claims that a 21-year-old Costa Rican girl enjoyed an unexpected recovery after a bicycle accident in Florence in 2022.

The girl, Valeria Valverde, reportedly underwent an emergency craniotomy to reduce pressure on her brain and her family was told she was in a critical condition.

Her mother later went to Acutis’s grave and prayed for her daughter’s swift recovery, and on the same day Ms Valverde started breathing again, church representatives said.

She was discharged from intensive care 10 days later with the use of her upper limbs and speech. Medical scans reportedly showed the contusion on her brain had disappeared.

Pope Francis has now approved this miracle.

Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi told broadcasters: “The Church in Assisi is in celebration. I plan to arrive in Assisi this evening to thank the Lord in a Eucharistic celebration. But as of now I join the faithful who are in the shrine for a prayer of praise.”

Sign up to the Front Page newsletter for free: Your essential guide to the day's agenda from The Telegraph - direct to your inbox seven days a week.

OTHER NEWS

15 minutes ago

Australia’s first high-speed rail link could ease house prices and widen the dating pool, UK expert says

15 minutes ago

Taliban minister congratulates captain Rashid Khan after Afghanistan reach T20 World Cup semifinals - WATCH

15 minutes ago

The Reason U.S. Arms Shipments to Israel Have Slowed

15 minutes ago

‘I feel like Britain’s just crumbled’

15 minutes ago

Mason Greenwood holds the key to Man Utd transfer plans after £30m bid submitted

15 minutes ago

Paul Merson aims sneering dig at Harry Kane after poor England display at Euros

15 minutes ago

Trump-backed Senate candidate will lose bid for Romney seat, CNN projects

15 minutes ago

As a doctor and mother of a 5-year-old girl, the prospect of Labour in charge of trans policy is enough to make me want to quit Britain, writes GP Renée Hoenderkamp

15 minutes ago

Monica Lewinsky calls for Judge Aileen Cannon to be IMPEACHED as she tears into her handling of Trump's classified documents case

18 minutes ago

Royal news – live: Princess Anne in hospital after being kicked by horse as Charles welcomes Japanese emperor

20 minutes ago

IATSE & Studios Reach Tentative Agreement On New Contracts

20 minutes ago

Kandi Burruss, 48, was 'depressed' when she didn't lose ANY weight on Ozempic: 'It didn't curb my appetite'

20 minutes ago

Video: Inside Rebecca Judd's new plans for her fabulous $1.2million holiday pad on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula

20 minutes ago

Video: Sophie Turner stars in first Joan teaser as master of disguise and infamous British diamond thief Joan Hannington for upcoming series

20 minutes ago

Rockingham, WA: Young parents Ben Smith and Drew La Reservee shocked by sudden unexplained death of their 16-month-old toddler Micah

20 minutes ago

Pedestrian deaths have fallen for the first time since the pandemic

23 minutes ago

Hold peace talks with Putin before war kills all of Ukraine’s young men, says Farage

23 minutes ago

Trudeau recalls being starstruck meeting Donald Sutherland

23 minutes ago

Eddie Murphy started work on Shrek 5 months ago and reveals Donkey is getting spinoff film: 'Gonna have his own movie'

23 minutes ago

Egypt apologises for power cuts but plans to shut shops early

24 minutes ago

Washington Commanders' Trade For Brandon Aiyuk: Fact or Fiction?

24 minutes ago

Officials provide update on partial dam failure in Minnesota

24 minutes ago

Bethel-Thompson, Beverette, Argos’ offensive line named in CFL honour roll.

24 minutes ago

Browns WR Amari Cooper says ‘I’m trying to get paid this year’

24 minutes ago

Eva Longoria wants a “Desperate Housewives” reboot: 'I miss Wisteria Lane'

24 minutes ago

Defiant Gareth Southgate refuses to rip up team with Phil Foden to start against Slovenia

24 minutes ago

‘If Afghanistan winning matches in T20 World Cup is a dream, I don’t want to wake up’ – Afghan fans celebrate their glorious march into semifinals

24 minutes ago

Richard Childress Racing makes leadership change amidst Kyle Busch struggles

24 minutes ago

Star says Hollywood is 'full' of closeted Trump and RFK Jr voters

25 minutes ago

Kevin Costner explains why he decided to leave “Yellowstone”: 'Just time to move on'

25 minutes ago

Pacific climate plight in sights of new Greens senator

25 minutes ago

John Curtis wins highly-contested primary Utah challenge to replace Sen. Mitt Romney

25 minutes ago

Jamaal Bowman is ousted in most expensive House primary ever

25 minutes ago

New Sir Charles Gairdner initiative brings hospital to homes of Perth patients

25 minutes ago

Luna Park Sydney listed for $70 million sale for the first time in two decades

25 minutes ago

FedEx Posts Better-Than-Expected Forecast on Cost Cuts

25 minutes ago

BTS' V Teases New Solo Music With ‘Type 1' Poster

25 minutes ago

Climate ideology ‘wins out’ over real interests of Australians: John Anderson

25 minutes ago

‘Historic day’ Julian Assange walks free after sentencing in US court

25 minutes ago

Kaizer Chiefs clear-out: Trio set to depart ahead of new season