Who Was Saint Carlo Acutis?

“God has written a unique and unrepeatable story for each of us, but he lets us write the ending.” -Saint Carlo Acutis

Carlo Acutis’ unrepeatable story is indeed unique, as is the way he chose to live out the end of his short 15 years on earth; but it is not unattainable in the way that many saint’s lives can be. Carlo went to some of the best schools in Milan. He traveled with family and vacationed at their second home in Assisi. He loved soccer, video games, police movies, and coding. He just loved God more than all of these things, and kept them in their proper place as tools with which to enjoy creation and glorify the Creator. In some ways he was just like the kids we knew growing up; except that Carlo took all the ordinary moments of his day and lived them out of love for God

There are many four-year-olds who would refuse to retaliate against the school bully, either because they had been taught good manners or were just fearful of the repercussions. Carlo, however, kept his peaceful demeanor when faced with adversity because “The Lord would not be pleased if I reacted violently.”

Children all over the world attend Mass obediently, but Carlo would seek out daily Mass and regular adoration because he was compelled to spend time with God, saying: “I think that many people do not fully understand the value of Mass, because if they recognized the enormous blessing we have in a Lord who gives himself as our food and drink in the Sacred Host, they would go to Mass every day to participate in the fruits of the sacrifice and let go of so many superfluous things!” These “superfluous things” included some of his family’s own possessions. Without physically renouncing the financial comforts of his family, he was spiritually separate from them.

Teenagers are known for their ability to spend hours online, but Carlo saw the internet through the lens of his love for God. A tool that could disseminate information across the world? What better knowledge could one have but a better understanding of the Eucharist? The Eucharist was Carlo’s anchor in the world. He often said “The Eucharist is my highway to heaven!” When he was born in May of 1991, “www.” webpages did not even exist. By the time he passed away 15 years later, he had created one of the most comprehensive websites of Eucharistic Miracles in existence, which can still be viewed at www.miracolieucaristici.org. Over 150 Eucharistic Miracles are detailed in 20 different languages on his website, making it an invaluable resource for anyone discerning the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

The same year that his website launched, Carlo grew ill with flu-like symptoms. The cause of the persistent sickness was M3-type leukemia, an aggressive and nearly incurable form of the cancer. At just 15 years old, he was facing the certainty of suffering and even death. When asked if was suffering he replied with a smile: “There are a lot of people suffering much more than me.” The next day he fell into a coma and suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage after a blood infusion and passed away.

Carlo did not stop praying for his neighbors, even in death. There are 2 confirmed miracles attributed to Saint Carlo Acutis; first, the spontaneous and immediate healing of a boy’s pancreatic malformation after he prayed for the intercession of Carlo and second, the inexplicable recovery of a young woman who suffered a brain injury. Her mother went to Carlo’s tomb in Assisi to pray, and she began to breathe on her own for the first time that day. Subsequent scans showed that her hemorrhage had vanished.

Carlo Acutis was canonized on September 7, 2025. “The first millennial saint”, as he’s often called, makes it clear: Sainthood is not some ancient practice for those who lived in quieter times, and it is not reserved for those who have secured the wisdom that comes with age. Amidst emerging technologies and a thriving high school social life, Carlo remained focused on his home in Christ and rooted in the Eucharist, praying as he received the consecrated host: “Jesus, make your home in me! Live within me as if it were your own dwelling!”

Those who knew Carlo speak as though they saw Jesus through him, sometimes physically meeting Jesus for the first time in Carlo’s words and actions, as was the case with his friend and family helper, Rajesh. Rajesh was Hindu, and one might not expect a young boy to have the biblical and canonical knowledge to convert an adult of his beliefs. As Rajesh recalled, “Carlo said I would have a happier future if I grew close to Jesus…and his explanations were so brilliant that he was able to get me very excited about the importance of the sacraments.”

It was in the sacraments that Carlo felt the presence of God. He was baptized as an infant but later recalled that baptism “opens the door of salvation to a soul as it reverts it with divine life. Anyone who doesn’t recognize the infinite value of this sacrament aside from the decorations, the cake, and the white dress has no idea the meaning of this great gift that God has given to mankind.” He gives us a beautiful challenge, once again, to free ourselves from those “superfluous things” and focus on eternal impact.

Equally challenging is his reflection on Jesus’ birth into the world and into our hearts: He observed that being born in a manger “was certainly better than a lot of houses that refuse to let the Lord in today or betray him, because he is received unworthily.” Carlo did not fit the mold of the stereotypical apathetic teenager. Instead, he knew the truth: He was created by God. He mattered. He had a “unique and unrepeatable story” and if it didn’t get told in his lifetime, the world would lose it forever.

Saint Carlo Acutis said, "All people are born as originals, but many die as photocopies.” Thanks to his faithfulness, he will not be counted among those who ended life as a mere copy of what the world decided to imprint upon them. Rather, Carlo imprinted himself upon the world and taught us that no matter how long our lives may be, they are short. They are uniquely given to us to be uniquely given back to God.

“Our goal must be infinite, not the finite. The infinite is our homeland. Heaven has been waiting for us forever.”

~Saint Carlo Actuis