Carlo Acutis and the 4 popes
Oct. 12, 2026, marks 20 years since St. Carlo Acutis died of leukemia at age 15. As a child, Acutis traveled to Rome to witness Pope John Paul II entrust the new millennium to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. After being diagnosed with leukemia, Acutis offered his suffering for Pope Benedict XVI and the Church. Pope Francis recognized miracles attributed to Acutis and beatified him in 2020, while Pope Leo XIV canonized him in 2025. Across the four most recent pontificates, Acutis has been presented as a model of faith, especially for young people in the digital age.
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Carlo Acutis’ life and path to sainthood spanned the pontificates of John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Francis, and Leo XIV. On the 20th anniversary of his death, the accounts trace how each pope became part of a different chapter in his story—from his childhood pilgrimage to Rome to his canonization in 2025. 1
Born in 1991, Acutis grew up during John Paul II’s pontificate. His Polish nanny helped foster his early faith, and in October 2000, when he was nine, Carlo traveled with his family to Rome to witness John Paul II entrust the new millennium to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Acutis watched Joseph Ratzinger’s election as Benedict XVI in April 2005; his mother later said he was fascinated by the new pope. The following year, after being diagnosed with leukemia, Carlo offered his suffering for the pope and the Church before dying in October 2006. 1 2
Pope Francis declared Acutis’ heroic virtue in 2018 and recognized the miracles attributed to his intercession that paved the way for beatification and canonization. Francis also presented him as an example for young people navigating digital life, emphasizing that happiness comes from putting God first and serving others. 2
Francis was scheduled to canonize Acutis on April 27, 2025, at a Jubilee event for young people, but died on April 21. The ceremony was postponed until after a new pope was elected. 1
Leo XIV canonized Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati on Sept. 7, 2025, one of the early major acts of his papacy. The accounts describe Acutis as the first millennial to be made a saint. 2
At the canonization, Leo held up Acutis and Frassati as examples for young people, urging them not to squander their lives but to direct them toward holiness. 1*
Sainthood joins Eucharistic devotion, digital culture, and youth formation
Saint Carlo Acutis brings together three themes that can easily seem separate: devotion to the Eucharist, life in a digital world, and the formation of young people. The Church’s message is not that technology makes someone holy, but that holiness can take root in ordinary life—including online life—when it is centered on Christ and expressed in service to others.
For Carlo, digital work flowed from Eucharistic devotion. He attended Mass daily, spent time in adoration, and used his computer skills to create an online presentation of Eucharistic miracles and to share the faith. Church accounts describe his aim as helping others encounter Christ, not attracting attention to himself. The US bishops likewise present the Eucharist as the center of his life and connect that devotion with his desire to bring the joy of the Gospel to others.
That connection matters for youth formation. Carlo was not portrayed as holy because he withdrew from contemporary culture, nor because he was simply skilled with technology. His example joined prayer, sacramental life, friendship, study, and charity. Pope Leo XIV has pointed to this integration as a model for young people: digital tools can serve evangelization and human connection, but they should not become a cage, an addiction, or a substitute for relationships and life with God.
The broader Catholic principle is that Eucharistic devotion should shape how one lives, not remain a private religious practice. Benedict XVI describes the Eucharist as the root of holiness and links worship with the offering of one’s life, communion with others, and solidarity with them. In Carlo’s case, that outward movement included sharing his faith online and helping people in need.
So the headline’s significance is more than a story about a young saint who used the internet. It points to a practical question for families, parishes, and schools: do young people’s digital skills, friendships, and daily routines help them turn toward Christ and care for others? Carlo’s witness suggests that formation is strongest when Eucharistic life and ordinary life are not separated—and when technology remains a tool rather than becoming the center.