A Teenage Saint for a Digital Age: Carlo Acutis's Canonization and the Catholic Church's Modernization

The Catholic Church is preparing to welcome its first millennial saint – Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian computer programmer who died in 2006 of leukemia. While the exact date of his canonization hasn't been announced, the Vatican has confirmed it will happen in 2025 during the church's jubilee year. This event underscores the church's ongoing efforts to connect with a new generation, particularly those born after the turn of the millennium.

Modern Saints for a Modern World: From Padre Pio to Carlo Acutis

Acutis's canonization follows a trend that began with the rise of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, another charismatic saint who was canonized in 2002. Described as a “saint for the millennium,” Padre Pio, whose life and miracles I've studied for over a decade, was arguably the first saint of the 21st century to resonate with the cultural sensibilities of the time. He was a Capuchin Franciscan priest known for his stigmata, or bleeding wounds of Jesus’ crucifixion, and was seen as a living saint who could know people’s confessions and even have mystical visions of Jesus.

Padre Pio's devotion was fueled by modern media, including multilingual magazines, a publishing house, a radio station, a satellite TV station, and a website, which together generated over US$150 million per year for his shrine. This approach was unprecedented at the turn of the millennium but was deemed necessary to circulate photos and videos of his stigmata, which had to be seen to be believed.

While Padre Pio's popularity continues to draw millions of devotees, the church appears to be turning to Carlo Acutis to appeal to a new, more worldly demographic.

Carlo Acutis: A Digital-Native Saint

What sets Carlo Acutis apart from other saints is that he was a “digital native.” As a teenager, he used his skills as a computer programmer to create virtual exhibitions and databases on Eucharistic miracles and sightings of the Virgin Mary. He also embraced modern media, sharing his faith online and inspiring others to do the same. In fact, Acutis has been lauded as “God’s influencer” and the “patron saint of the Internet” by the media.

His story is also marketed through the media that the new generation uses, such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Biographies with titles like “A Saint in Sneakers” and “God’s Computer Genius” combine accounts of his holiness with details about his everyday life, including his love of Nutella, his interest in soccer, hiking, and video games like Pokémon and Halo.

Bridging Generations: Carlo Acutis's Legacy

Acutis's canonization is a testament to the Catholic Church's adaptation to a changing world. By embracing modern media and promoting figures like Acutis, the church is trying to connect with younger generations and ensure its continued relevance in a world increasingly shaped by technology and social media. Acutis's legacy is a reminder that faith can be expressed in diverse ways, even in the digital age. His story is a reminder that the search for meaning and purpose is universal and can be found in both the traditional and the modern.

Acutis's canonization also serves as a bridge between generations. His online exhibitions, which have been adapted into physical exhibits displayed in parishes throughout Europe and the U.S., offer a unique way for young and older generations to connect with his story. This approach reflects the church's broader efforts to promote intergenerational dialogue and foster a shared sense of community.

Carlo Acutis: A Saint for the 21st Century

Carlo Acutis's upcoming canonization is not just a testament to his own life but also a marker of the Catholic Church's continuing evolution. As a perpetual “teenager in heaven,” buried in jeans, sneakers, and a warmup jacket, a tech-savvy and socially conscious generation of young Catholics may very well see themselves in him. His story holds the potential to inspire a new generation of faithful and show them that the pursuit of faith can coexist with the realities of modern life.

A Modern Saint's Appeal: An Ordinary Teenager With Extraordinary Faith

Despite his exceptional skill as a programmer, Acutis was described by the bishop of Assisi as an “ordinary” teenager with extraordinary faith. He understood the power of online spaces to spread faith and used his passion for technology to create engaging content about Eucharistic miracles and Marian apparitions. His story resonates with young people today because he was just like them – a teenager who was passionate about technology, enjoyed video games, and had a fondness for Nutella. But he was also deeply committed to his faith, integrating his love for God into his everyday life. He found ways to live out his faith in the modern world, demonstrating that faith can be expressed in diverse ways, even in the digital age.

The Church Adapts: A Modern Approach to Faith

The church's embracing of Carlo Acutis and his legacy represents a shift in its approach to communicating faith in the modern era. His canonization, along with the ongoing devotion to Padre Pio, reflects a conscious effort to make the church more accessible and relevant to a new generation. This move signifies a departure from the traditional, often solemn image of the church and its saints, toward a more approachable and relatable figure who uses contemporary language and media to share his faith. Acutis is a model of faith for the digital age, demonstrating that faith can be practiced and expressed in ways that are relevant to the lives of young people today.