A WEB influencer and avid gamer will become the first millennial to be canonised by the Catholic Church.
Born in London to Italian parents, Carlo Acutis moved to Italy at around four months old, where he carried out most of his religious activities.
Acutis was known for his skill with computers, learning programming languages like Dreamweaver, Java, C++, and Ubuntu.
He built websites promoting the Catholic faith earning him the title of ‘God’s Influencer’.
Acutis was particularly known for his website that catalogued every reported Eucharistic miracle and Marian apparition.
The website debuted a few days before Acutis’ death, but its influence remains.
Acutis’ gaming became part of his volunteer work: he once donated a number of video games to Capuchin friars for children with no toys.
Known as the ‘first saintly gamer’, his favourite games were Halo, Pokémon and Super Mario, and a VR game based on his life was developed after his death called Acutis Game.
Pope Francis has recognised Acutis’ second miracle earlier this year, allowing him to become a saint.
Acutis passed away from leukaemia in 2006 at the age of 15, but his body has been entombed in Assisi where followers from all over the world go to pray and pay respects.
His first miracle was recognised by Pope Francis in 2020, after a mother prayed for Acutis’ intercession for her sick son.
The child who was born with a pancreatic birth defect reportedly said he felt healed and asked for solid food after the prayer.
Acutis’ second miracle was recognised after a mother prayed for his intercession at his tomb following her daughter’s accident.
The daughter was initially given a low chance of survival, but began to breathe independently on the same day as the prayer, and walked the day after.
As reported by CNN, on Monday, July 1, 2024, the Vatican announced that the Pope had decreed the canonisation after cardinals had voted in favour of his sainthood.
The day of Acutis’ canonisation is yet to be set, but it will likely fall during the Catholic Church’s jubilee celebrations in 2025.
If you want to learn more, you can read an in-depth report about Acutis’ life work here.
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