For many Catholics, the answer arrived on September 7, when Pope Leo XIV canonized Carlo Acutis—the teenage computer whiz who used technology to spread faith. Called the “patron saint of the internet” and even “God’s influencer,” Acutis is now the first millennial officially declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.
Unlike the ancient martyrs or medieval holy figures, Acutis was a modern teenager who died of leukemia in 2006. He built a website cataloging miracles and used his digital skills to evangelize in ways no saint had before. For today’s young Catholics, his story offers something unusual: a saint who feels relatable.
Who Gets to Be a Saint?
In Catholic tradition, sainthood means official recognition that someone is in God’s eternal presence after living a life of heroic virtue. This does not make them different from other souls in heaven—it simply means they are venerated publicly on Earth. The Church can dedicate feast days, shrines, and prayers in their name.
But not everyone who lives virtuously is canonized. The process is long, complex, and often strategic. It usually begins with a petition to a local bishop, followed by years of investigation into the candidate’s life, writings, and reputation. The Pope must first declare them “venerable” before the next step can begin.
The Role of Miracles
Miracles are at the heart of canonization. In most modern cases, these involve inexplicable medical healings. To confirm one, the Vatican assembles a panel of doctors to determine whether science can explain the cure. Only if no natural explanation exists—and if prayers were directed solely to the candidate—does the Church recognize the event as miraculous.
Traditionally, two confirmed miracles are required: one for beatification (a step before sainthood) and another for canonization. In earlier centuries, the number was even higher, but Pope John Paul II reduced the requirement to keep the process more practical.
Even so, proving miracles in the age of advanced medicine remains challenging. Yet they continue to serve as powerful signs for believers that divine intervention is real.
Why Sainthood Still Matters
Canonization has always been about holiness, but also about relevance. Throughout history, the Church has elevated saints who could inspire people in their time. Research even shows a pattern: in regions where Catholicism faced competition from Protestant or Evangelical groups, the Vatican increased canonizations to energize local faith.
Carlo Acutis represents this same dynamic for the modern era. As more young people leave the Catholic Church, Acutis stands out as a figure they can relate to—someone who grew up with video games, coding, and the internet. By canonizing him during the 2025 Jubilee, a time of global pilgrimage, the Church is sending a clear message: sainthood is not only about the past, but also about the present.
A Saint for the Digital Age
The canonization of Carlo Acutis may be strategic, but it is also deeply symbolic. He bridges the gap between ancient tradition and the digital world, showing that holiness can be lived out even in a modern lifestyle. For Catholics—and especially millennials—his story offers hope that sainthood is not distant or unreachable, but something that can reflect their own lives.
Whether seen as a move of faith, strategy, or both, Carlo Acutis has redefined what it means to be a saint in today’s world.