Catholic Church's first millennial saint: Carlo Acutis canonized by Pope Leo

VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV has declared Italian computer programmer Carlo Acutis the first Catholic saint of the millennial generation (born between 1981 and 1996). The ceremony was witnessed by about 70,000 young believers from various countries at the Vatican.

Carlo died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15. Born in London on May 3, 1991, Carlo learned computer code and built websites to spread his strong faith in God.

Pier Giorgio Frassati, an Italian who helped the poor, was also declared a saint. Giorgio died of polio in 1925 at the age of 24. Sunday's canonization was the first by Pope Leo since his ordination in May. Pope Leo said Carlo and Giorgio were models of holiness and mutual help.

Young Catholics have been eagerly awaiting Carlo's canonization for months. The canonization was supposed to take place in April. However, it was postponed in the wake of Pope Francis's death.

Carlo's body is kept in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in the town of Assisi in central Italy. This was one of Carlo's last wishes. Thousands of believers come here every day. Assisi is the birthplace of Saint Francis, who gave up all luxuries and wealth and found the light of life in hunger and poverty.

God's Influencer

Carlo is the son of Andrea Acutis and Antonia Salzano, who belong to wealthy Italian families. The two, who worked in London and Germany, moved to Milan, Italy, after Carlo's birth.

Carlo's parents were not staunch followers of religion. Carlo began to express his faith in God and prayer from the age of three. He provided food, sleeping bags, and water to those who were homeless.

Carlo studied the lives of saints, including Francis of Assisi. Carlo, who was interested in computers and video games, used his computer knowledge to spread his beliefs. Carlo is also known as the "God's Influencer".