Who was Saint Carlo Acutis? Everything you need to know about the first millennial saint, aka ‘God’s influencer’

On Sunday (Sep 7, 2025), Pope Leo XIV declared Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old computer whiz, as the first millennial saint of the Catholic Church. The Pope canonized Carlo Acutis, who died young, in the ceremony held at St. Peter's Square, attended by an estimated 70,000 young worshippers from dozens of countries. The pope pronounced him a saint during a Mass. Here’s everything you need to know about Saint Carlo Acutis, aka ‘God’s influencer’.

Who was Saint Carlo Acutis?

(Pic courtesy: Saint Carlos Acutis website)

Born May 3, 1991, in London, to Italian parents, Acutis grew up in Milan as his family relocated shortly after his birth. Though his parents weren't especially devout, Acutis was drawn towards God and the Catholic faith from a very young age. Antonia Salzano, his mother, recalled that her son had a normal and happy childhood, and he was devout, thanks to the influence of his Polish Catholic nanny. “He had an ordinary life, like all of us. But an ordinary life that became extraordinary,” Salzano told AP.

Daily prayer was a non-negotiable part of 'Little Buddha's life

(Pic courtesy: Saint Carlos Acutis website)

His mother used to call him 'Little Buddha' for his calm and joyful demeanour. Little Buddha was obedient and very particular about daily prayers and going to Mass daily. According to the priest who promoted his cause of sainthood, Acutis "managed to drag his relatives, his parents to Mass every day. It was not the other way around; it was not his parents bringing the little boy to Mass, but it was he who managed to get himself to Mass and to convince others to receive Communion daily.” After receiving his First Communion at the age of 7, he attended daily Mass, prayed the rosary, and practiced Eucharistic adoration.


A computer whiz and God’s influencer

Acutis was a tech-savvy kid. As a regular kid, he enjoyed activities such as hiking, video games, soccer, and joking around with friends. He was particularly interested in computer science and used to read college-level books on programming, coding, and web design, even as a kid. At the age of 11, he designed a website and documented over 100 Eucharistic miracles recognised by the church, and called it ‘the highway to heaven’. Soon enough, he got nicknames such as ‘patron saint of the Internet’ and ‘God’s influencer’. "Our aim has to be the infinite and not the finite. The Infinite is our homeland. We have always been expected in Heaven," Acutis says on his website. His famous quote is, "All people are born as originals, but many die as photocopies."



Leukemia

In October 2006, at the age of 2006, he fell ill. Initially, his parents thought it was the flu. But when the symptoms worsened, he was taken to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with acute and aggressive leukemia. He was pronounced dead on October 12. His funeral was held in Milan, but he was later entombed in Assisi, a famous pilgrimage site linked to St. Francis of Assisi. Saint Carlo Acutis rests in the glass tomb, wearing jeans, Nike sneakers, and a sweatshirt, like a regular teenager.