“We were given an amazing opportunity!”
Just three days before he is scheduled to be canonized a saint by Pope Leo XIV, our Diocesan pilgrims had the chance to pray at the tomb of soon-to-be Saint Carlo Acutis this afternoon in Assisi.
“An amazing opportunity,” is how Father Andrew Hvozdovic, Diocesan Coordinator of Pilgrimages, described the experience.
Born in London in 1991 and raised in Milan, Blessed Acutis spent most of his vacation time in Assisi, where his family owned another home.
Just as he was very active in his parish and Jesuit-run high school in Milan, he also dedicated himself to the church community in Assisi, learning about St. Francis and being inspired by the saint’s respect for creation and dedication to the poor, according to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints’ website.
Carlo chose to be buried in Assisi because of his strong attraction and connection to St. Francis.
Blessed Acutis is buried in a room – now a shrine – dedicated to remembering St. Francis’ “renunciation,” when he publicly disrobed and renounced his family’s wealth to live in poverty and humble service to God.
About 1 million people visited Blessed Acutis’ tomb in 2024. Even more are expected to visit this year because of the Jubilee Year.
