Gamer, programmer Carlo Acutis to become the 1st millennial saint

PERHAPS A DAY will come when a computer genius and an avid gamer will one day be canonized as a saint. But is it possible to begin with?

Recently, the Vatican has announced that Italian website designer, computer programmer, and gamer Carlo Acutis will be the first millennial saint of the Catholic Church.

He died last October 12, 2006 at 15 years of age due to leukaemia.

Who is Carlo Acutis?

Acutis was born in London, England then moved to Milan, Italy on the same year he was born. It was in Italy where Acutis was taken care off by the Sisters of St. Marcellina and the Society of Jesus.

He was fond of learning computer science, watching films, editing comics, and playing video games. It was also revealed that he loved playing Super Mario, Pokemon, and Halo.

Growing up, he was known for his good-hearted demeanor, defending his peers who were bullied, and even stood up to girls who were harassed by boys at school. There was also a beggar who Acutis would oftentimes give money.

'God's influencer'

Beyond that, he was known for applying his programming skills to create a webpage for Santa Maria Segreta in Milan. He even made a website dedicated to the Eucharistic miracles and approved Marian apparitions of the Catholic Church, preaching the Gospel.

His actions led to his beatification, which was being called upon on October 12, 2012. This became official last October 10, 2020 at the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Italy by Cardinal Agostino Vallini (on behalf of Pope Francis).

Then on July 1, 2024, after a series of miracles attributed from Acutis, Pope Francis approved of the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis. One of those miracles involved a Costa Rican, who had a low chance of surviving due to a brain haemorrhage, which suddenly disappeared, after praying to Acutis.