Teenager from London known as ‘God’s influencer’ to become first millennial saint
A teenager born in London is set to become the first millennial to be made a saint – in a move from the Vatican that will likely inspire more young people to follow the Catholic faith.
Carlo Acutis, who died of leukaemia at the age of 15, lived in Milan where he took care of his parish website.
He was given the name ‘God’s influencer’ for his strong religious believes and for using his computer skills to spread the teachings of the Catholic church.
After his death in 2006, his mother Antonia said that people from across the world had told her about medical phenomenon after praying to her son.
His body lies in repose in a glass tomb in Assisi where he can be seen in jeans and a pair of Nike trainers.
Pope Francis has now cleared the way for the teenager to become the very first millennial saint by attributing a second miracle to him.
Carlos rose to fame internationally after a three-year-old Brazilian boy was ‘cured’ of a birth defect, which had left him unable to keep down his food, after touching his relic.
For this, he had been beatified – the first step towards sainthood – in 2020, in a ceremony in an Italian basilica.
His second miracle was approved by the Pope after a meeting with the Vatican’s saint-making department on Thursday.
It involved a woman Valeria from Costa Rica, who was studying in Italy, who was ‘healed’ after suffering a head trauma in a cycling incident, according to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
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The 21-year-old had needed major brain surgery for the severe head trauma she suffered.
She required craniotomy surgery and the removal of the right occipital bone to reduce pressure on her brain, but doctors warned survival rates were low.
Steps to becoming a saint
The process to make someone a saint cannot normally start until at least five years after their death.
It is a very high honour. After someone is canonised, their name is added to the official catalogue of saints.
Masses and feast days can be celebrated in their honor, and churches can be
dedicated in their memory.
The process involves four major steps, but the pope may waive some of the requirements.
- A formal request is made to consider them for sainthood. Witnesses are called to attest to the candidate’s goodness, holiness, devotion to God, and other virtues. If a person passes this step, they are named a ‘Servant of God.’
- The bishop sends a formal report and request to Rome where it is reviewed by the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.
- The next step is beatification. If the candidate was a martyr, someone who died for their faith, they may be beatified and named ‘Blessed.’
- After being beatified, another miracle is required for he person to be canonised and officially declared a saint.
Her mother Liliana traveled to Assisi to pray for her at Carlo’s grave. That same day, Valeria started to breathe on her own and 24 hours later, she was able to move her arms and to speak again.
The student was discharged from intensive care just 10 days after her mother’s pilgrimage.
Two weeks later, a CAT scan proved that her hemorrhage had vanished, and she was moved to rehabilitation therapy.
The Vatican confirmed that Carlos will be canonised, but did not share further details about when the ceremony will happen.
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