Influencer deemed holy by Pope
Pope Leo XIV Declares Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati as Saints
In a historic event, Pope Leo XIV declared Italian teenager Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati as saints during a grand mass in St. Peter's Square. This was the first canonization since Pope Leo XIV was elected four months ago.
Carlo Acutis, who passed away at the age of 15 from leukemia in 2006, is now known as "God's influencer" due to his promotion of faith on the internet. His body is on display in a glass-coffined sarcophagus in a church in Assisi, dressed in jeans and sneakers. Remarkably, the process of his beatification and canonization took less than 20 years, which is faster than usual in the Catholic Church.
The Vatican attributes two "miraculous healings" to Acutis after his death, one in Florence and another in Brazil. The relics of both saints were brought to the altar after the canonization.
Pier Giorgio Frassati, who died in 1925, was also canonized during the open-air service. Frassati, like Acutis, was particularly dedicated to helping the poor and marginalized. His life, like that of Acutis, was scrutinized in detail as part of the process.
Memorabilia of Carlo Acutis is now sold alongside that of Saint Francis in the souvenir shops of his hometown. T-shirts depicting Acutis as Superman were worn by some faithful at the mass. The Catholic Church, with these "young saints," hopes to make the Church more appealing, especially to young people.
The Catholic Church has over 10,000 saints, including the Virgin Mary and almost all the apostles. Pope Leo XIV spoke of an invitation for all, especially young people, not to waste their lives but to direct them upwards and make them a masterpiece.
It is worth noting that the idea to canonize both Acutis and Frassati during the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV was represented and realized directly by the Pope himself. There is no indication from the sources that someone else specifically initiated the idea apart from the Pope's direct actions in leading the cause and ceremony.
The lives of the candidates for sainthood are subject to rigorous scrutiny as part of the process. It is required that miracles can be attributed to the saint during this process. The relics of Carlo Acutis have been exhibited in Germany, further spreading his influence and legacy.
In conclusion, the canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati marks a significant moment in the Catholic Church, particularly in its efforts to engage with young people and continue to inspire faith and service in the modern world.
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