Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV declared Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old computer whiz who died in 2006, as the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint during an open-air Mass at St. Peter’s Square. The ceremony, attended by tens of thousands of faithful, including many millennials and families, marked a historic moment recognising a relatable modern role model who used technology to spread the faith and earned the nickname “God’s Influencer.”

Alongside Acutis, Pope Leo XIV canonised another young Italian figure, Pier Giorgio Frassati, known for his charitable works and early death. The Vatican said the Mass was celebrated with the participation of 36 cardinals, 270 bishops, and 212 priests, underscoring the enormous appeal of the two saints across the Church hierarchy and the laity.

Carlo Acutis was beatified in 2020 by Pope Francis after recognition of miracles attributed to his intercession, including the healing of a Costa Rican woman who suffered a severe brain haemorrhage. Acutis, who was born in London and grew up in Milan, used his skills in computer programming to create an online exhibition cataloguing Eucharistic miracles worldwide, connecting faith with modern technology.

The canonisation was originally scheduled for April 2025 but was postponed following Pope Francis's death earlier this year. Pope Leo XIV announced the official canonisation date in June 2025 during a consistory with cardinals.

With inputs from AP