Pope to Canonize Two Italians, Highlighting Accessibility of Sainthood

Strategic Insights -

Pope Leo XIV is set to canonize two Italians, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis, on September 7, 2025, at the Vatican. The canonization emphasizes the accessibility of sainthood and the importance of living a life centered on Christ. Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian teenager, is being recognized for his devotion to Mary, reciting the rosary daily, helping the poor, and spreading the Gospel through his website and catechism teachings.

Key Takeaways:

  • Carlo Acutis was a 15-year-old Italian teenager who was devoted to Mary and lived a life centered on Christ, despite being a teenager in the internet age.
  • He was devoted to helping the poor and homeless, and edited and ran the website of the parish of Santa Maria Segreta in Milan, where he also taught catechism and prepared children for confirmation.
  • Acutis' holiness is seen as accessible to everyone, as he lived a "normal" life, playing on his computer, swimming, playing sports, and attending school, but with his heart completely oriented toward Jesus.
  • He was buried in a room dedicated to remembering St. Francis' "renunciation," where he publicly disrobed and renounced his family's wealth to live in poverty and humble service to God.
  • Acutis' radical acceptance of God's plan, even if it meant letting go of family, friends, and earthly life, provided profound support for pilgrims visiting his tomb.
  • Thousands of visitors, including Massimo Mennelli and his wife, Fiorella Sacco, were inspired by Acutis' life and considered him a great guide and a gift to humanity in the third millennium.

Statistics:

  • About 1 million people visited just the Church of St. Mary Major, where the shrine and Blessed Acutis' tomb are located, in 2024.
  • The numbers are expected to be much higher in 2025 due to the Holy Year, the Jubilee of Youth, and the canonization of Acutis.

Sources:

  • United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
  • Catholic News Service (CNS)
  • Dicastery for the Causes of Saints' website
  • Shrine of the Renunciation (Assisi)
  • Parish of St. Joseph the Artisan (San Severo, Italy)