Pope Francis will canonize Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati in a ceremony at St. Peter's Square on October 6, 2024, recognizing them as saints of the Catholic Church. Both young men, who died in the 20th and 21st centuries respectively, are celebrated for their deep faith and commitment to serving others. The canonization process, a rigorous investigation by the Vatican, confirms the recognition of miracles attributed to their intercession.
Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15, gained posthumous recognition for his use of technology to spread the Catholic faith. He taught himself to code and created a website documenting Eucharistic miracles, earning him the nickname "God's Influencer." Vatican News details his life and work.
The Vatican has officially recognized two miracles attributed to Acutis' intercession. The first involved the healing of a Brazilian child with a rare pancreatic malformation, and the second, the recovery of a Costa Rican student seriously injured in an accident. These miracles were crucial steps in the canonization process, following his beatification in 2020 by Pope Francis. The canonization ceremony, initially scheduled for April 2024, was postponed due to the illness and subsequent death of pope Francis, but has been rescheduled for October 6th. Reuters reported on the rescheduling.
Acutis' canonization is expected to draw thousands of pilgrims,particularly to Assisi,Italy,where the ceremony will be broadcast on giant screens.Assisi is a significant pilgrimage site due to its association with St. Francis of Assisi.