07/09/2025
It’s Official: St. Carlo Acutis & St. Pier Giorgio Frassati Canonized
Rome, September 7, 2025 — In a historic and joy-filled celebration at St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV officially declared St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati the newest saints of the Roman Catholic Church. The canonization liturgy, attended by thousands of pilgrims from around the world and watched by millions via live broadcast, highlighted the Church’s recognition of youthful holiness, heroic charity, and vibrant faith.
St. Carlo Acutis: The “Cyber Apostle of the Eucharist”
Carlo Acutis (1991–2006) was born in London, raised in Milan, and known for his deep devotion to the Eucharist. Nicknamed the “Cyber Apostle,” he created a website documenting Eucharistic miracles across the globe. Despite being diagnosed with leukemia at age 15, Carlo offered his sufferings for the Pope and the Church. His incorrupt body, resting in Assisi, has drawn countless pilgrims.
Beatified in 2020, Carlo’s canonization makes him the first millennial saint, a patron for young Catholics, students, and internet users. His motto, “The Eucharist is my highway to Heaven,” has become a rallying cry for Eucharistic devotion in the digital age.
St. Pier Giorgio Frassati: The “Man of the Beatitudes”
Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925), born into a prominent Italian family, was a joyful student, mountaineer, and lover of the poor. Known for his spirit of adventure, he brought friends on mountain climbs and prayed the Rosary with equal fervor. He joined Catholic Action and worked tirelessly for social justice, often sneaking out at night to deliver food and aid to the needy.
He died at just 24, leaving behind the reputation of a “normal young man with extraordinary holiness.” Pope John Paul II, who beatified him in 1990, called him the “Man of the Beatitudes.” With today’s canonization, he is now officially honored as a saint, a model for young Catholics, outdoor enthusiasts, and those committed to charity.
A Jubilee Year of Hope
The joint canonization of Acutis and Frassati comes during the Jubilee Year of Hope, underscoring the Church’s message that holiness is not confined to the cloister or the extraordinary, but can be lived out in classrooms, workplaces, sports, friendships, and digital platforms.
Universal Call to Holiness
By elevating these two youthful witnesses, the Church proclaims anew that sanctity is possible in every generation. Their lives remind Catholics that holiness is not distant but attainable through prayer, charity, joy, and fidelity to Christ.
Closing Prayer
St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, intercede for us, that we may embrace holiness in the ordinary moments of life. Inspire young people to follow Christ with courage, creativity, and love. May your examples ignite in the Church a renewed passion for the Eucharist, for service to the poor, and for joyful witness to the Gospel. Amen.
