GOD-fearing Catholics gathered in scores to get a glimpse of the first millennial saint-to-be whose body is being preserved in an ancient Italian city.
Devotees lined up at the Sanctuary of the Spoliation in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi to take a look at the late Carlo Acutis, who was known as “God’s influencer”.
Association of the Friends of Carlo AcutisCarlo Acutis known as “God’s influencer” will become the first millennial saint[/caption]
GettyWorhsippers lined up to get a glimpse of Blessed Carlo Acutis in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and Sanctuary of the Renunciation in Assisi, Italy[/caption]
Souvenirs and mementos of the teenager were being sold in a shop
GettyThe boy was credited for two miracles throughout his life which were approved by the Vatican[/caption]
Souvenirs and mementos of the London-born Catholic paying tribute to the young teen’s image were also being sold at a shop in the medieval town.
The 15-year-old web-designer lived an all too short life of devout religious work – he was credited for many miracles including healing a six-year-old boy who inexplicably recovered from a rare pancreatic condition after touching a relic of Acutis.
The Italian boy, who died of acute leukaemia in 2006, was also known for creating a website to document every reported Eucharistic miracle, and he regularly provided care and support to the homeless in his native Milan.
After being laid to rest in 2019, his holy legacy lived on – and in 2020 the miracle in which he healed a six-year-old boy attributed to his intervention was recognised by the Vatican.
Carlo’s mum Antonia Salzano said: “The boy was vomiting and risked dying. Then, on the third day of prayers, he started eating.
“We get news of miracles attributed to Carlo all the time.
One woman was cured of her cancer after attending his funeral, and I heard of two more a few days ago.
“It’s a mystery – I sense the finger of God.
“ Losing your son is the most terrible thing, but we are happy he is helping people discover their faith.”
GettyThe boy set up a website to document Eucharistic miracles[/caption]
GettyA life-sized statue of Blessed Carlo Acutis stands in the doorway of religious shop near the Vatican[/caption]
GettyAssisi is the resting place of the London-born Italian teenager who died from leukemia in 2006 and was later beatified by Pope Francis[/caption]
GettyDevotees could buy a range of souvenirs at a nearby shop in the Vatican[/caption]
In October that year he was given the title “Blessed”, which means to be beatified.
In 2024, Pope Francis granted approval for Carlo’s canonisation as the first ever millennial saint after a second miracle attributed to Carlo was approved by the Vatican.
This miracle saw the teen’s spirit responsible for saving the life of a young Costa Rican woman who suffered severe head trauma after falling from her bicycle in Florence in 2022.
The woman required intense surgery, but after her desperate mother made the pilgrimage to Carlo’s tomb, her daughter suddenly started moving and regaining speech just days later.
CAT scans on the recovering woman, named Valeria Valverde, then showed that her haemorrhage had disappeared.
The mother and daughter then both made the pilgrimage to Assisi one month later after making a speedy recovery.
Who is Carlo Acutis?
The “millennial saint” Carlo Acutis was born in London in 1991 before he moved to Milan with his Italian parents.
According to his parents, the Catholic boy would always ask to visit churches he passed in Milan from the age of three.
His mother Antonia Salzano said he would frequently donate his pocket money to poor people and take meals and sleeping bags to rough sleepers.
She added he would offer to support classmates whose parents were going through divorces.
The tech wiz kid was also a web designer who enjoyed video games.
He designed sites for his parish and school, but famously launched a website seeking to document every reported Eucharistic miracle which has been translated into several languages.
The teenager died in October 2006, and during his burial in 2019, the church was reportedly so full that people were lining up outside to get in.
He was attributed to two miracles which were recognised by the Vatican and allowed him to be beatified as a saint.
The first involved him healing a six-year-old Brazilian boy who was suffering from a rare pancreatic disorder.
The boy was cured after touching one of Carlo’s T-shirts.
The second saw a Costa Rican woman miraculously recovering from a severe bicycle accident injury after her mum made a pilgrimage to Carlo’s tomb.
Carlo will become the first canonised Catholic saint born between 1981 and 1996, which has lead to some calling him “God’s influencer.”
The complicated canonisation process involves a candidate being named a servant of God, their life being proved as a heroic virtue, the candidate being beatified and then finally being canonised as a Saint.
Carlo is expected to be canonised as the 913th ever saint during the church’s Jubilee of Teenagers between April 25 and 27 this year.
The Brit-born teen requested to be buried in Assisi before his death – having become an admirer of St. Francis of Assisi because of his dedication to the poor.
Carlo’s body lies encased in a wax layer which is moulded to look like his body before his burial.
The teenage saint-to-be is clad in a tracksuit and sneakers and has been on display for veneration in the sanctuary for more than five years.
His heart is also on display in a reliquary in the nearby St. Francis Basilica.
GettyCarlo’s body lies encased in a wax layer which is sculptured to look like his body before burial[/caption]
GettyHe is set to be canonised as a saint between April 25 and 27 this year[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
