Pope Leo XIV Canonizes First Millennial Saint, Pier Giorgio Frassati in Vatican Ceremony

Pope Leo XIV canonized Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old computer prodigy who died of leukemia in 2006 and became the first millennial saint, alongside Pier Giorgio Frassati, an Italian activist who died young and was known for his service to the poor. The ceremony, held at St. Peter’s Square before an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 attendees including many young people, emphasized the saints as modern role models inspiring youth to dedicate their lives to God. Acutis gained recognition for creating a multilingual website documenting Eucharistic miracles, earning him the nickname 'God’s Influencer,' while Frassati was celebrated as a beacon of lay spirituality devoted to humble service. Pope Leo XIV highlighted the importance of not wasting life outside God’s plan and called both saints examples for the faithful, particularly young Catholics facing modern challenges including technology and artificial intelligence. The canonization was the first major celebration of Leo XIV’s pontificate and was attended by prominent figures such as Italy’s president. Carlo Acutis’s body remains on public display in Assisi, continuing to draw pilgrims worldwide and symbolizing a bridge between faith and the digital age.