Saint Carlo Acutis
Feast day: October 12
Saint Carlo Acutis, a teenager who loved the Eucharist, a young saint of the internet age (12/10)
Who is he?
Saint Carlo Acutis was an Italian teenager who lived in our own time, the time of computers and the internet. He used his talents to help many people know and love Jesus in the Eucharist. On 7 September 2025, Pope Leo XIV canonized him.
Life story
Carlo was born on 3 May 1991 in London, England, and then moved with his family to Milan, Italy. He was a cheerful boy who loved soccer and video games, and he had several dogs and cats that he loved dearly.
At 7, he made his First Communion. From then on, he tried to go to Mass every day, stay for Eucharistic adoration, pray the Rosary and go to Confession regularly. He called the Eucharist “the highway to heaven.”
He was very good with computers: he taught himself programming, video editing and how to make websites. He liked playing video games, but he set himself time limits so he wouldn’t get hooked. He used his computer skills to make a website and an exhibition about Eucharistic miracles around the world. That exhibition is still shown in many places today.
He was kind to everyone. He used his pocket money to buy sleeping bags and food for homeless people, and he stood up for classmates who were bullied, especially those with disabilities.
At the beginning of October 2006, he fell ill with acute leukemia, a very serious blood disease. He offered his suffering to God for the Pope and for the Church. Just a few days later, on 12 October 2006, he died at only 15 years old. He was buried in Ternengo, Italy, and in January 2007 was moved to Assisi. He was declared Blessed on 10 October 2020.
Why is he a saint?
Saint Carlo did not become a priest or a religious and did not do great things on the outside. He became a saint because every day he put Jesus at the center, and loved others in practical ways. After he died, the Church carefully studied his life and recognized miracles through his prayers before canonizing him.
A lesson for you
- Use your phone, computer and social media to do good, and set yourself limits on gaming time.
- Visit Jesus in the Eucharist often: go to Mass, and stop by the church to spend a few minutes with him whenever you can.
- Don’t try to be exactly like everyone else. Carlo used to say: “Everyone is born as an original, but many people end up dying as photocopies” (quoted by Pope Francis in the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit, no. 106).
Identifying marks
- A monstrance holding the Host: Carlo loved Jesus in the Eucharist very much, and called the Eucharist “the highway to heaven.”
- A red T-shirt, jeans and sneakers: the everyday clothes of a schoolboy, like in the well-known photos of Carlo.
- A Rosary: Carlo prayed the Rosary faithfully and loved Mary very much.
- A school backpack: Carlo was a teenager like you, who went to school and played.
- A computer (*): Carlo was good with computers and made a website about Eucharistic miracles.
(*) Only in some pictures and statues.
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