Catholic Church Canonizes First Millennial Saint Carlo Acutis

In 2025, the Roman Catholic Church marked historic milestones with the election of the first American pope, Leo XIV, and the canonization of Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint known as "God's Influencer" for using digital media to document Eucharistic miracles and spread the faith online. Carlo Acutis, who died at 15, exemplifies a model of integrating faith with digital life, serving as a patron saint of the internet alongside Pier Giorgio Frassati, who was also canonized as patron saint of young people. These canonizations coincide with the Church's Jubilee of Young People, emphasizing relevance to digital-native generations facing contemporary challenges such as social media pressures and spiritual searching. Meanwhile, Gen Z is experiencing significant mental health struggles and a longing for authentic relationships and spiritual renewal, highlighting a broader cultural moment of faith seeking fresh expression amid secular challenges. Complementing these religious evolutions, faith leaders like Africa’s Pastor Alph Lukau are innovating through digital platforms and AI to meet the spiritual needs of a global, tech-savvy audience. Collectively, these developments illustrate a faith community actively engaging modern technology and generational realities to inspire and sustain spiritual life in the digital age.