Carlo Acutis was a London-born Italian teenager who gained recognition for his dedication to spreading the teachings of the Catholic Church online, earning him the nickname “the influencer of God.” Despite passing away in 2006 at the age of 15, he has been on the path to sainthood. In October 2021, Pope Francis attributed a second miracle to him, involving the healing of a Costa Rican university student named Valeria Valverde.
Valeria had suffered a brain hemorrhage after a bicycle accident in Florence, Italy and had visited Acutis’ tomb and submitted a prayer for recovery. Within days, Valeria began to show signs of improvement and ultimately led to a full recovery within a few weeks. Acutis had been beatified in 2020 after his first miracle, which involved curing a Brazilian child with a congenital disease.
Acutis’ dedication to his faith was evident in his work, which included designing websites for his parish and school as well as creating a site to document reported Eucharistic miracles. His impact has been felt far beyond his death, with his website being translated into multiple languages and used for exhibitions worldwide.
The process of canonization involves recognizing at least two miracles attributed to an individual typically involving extraordinary healings or interventions beyond the laws of nature. The date of Acutis’ canonization is yet to be determined but his legacy as a patron of the web and a symbol of faith continues to inspire Catholics around the world.
