Latest news with #Acutis
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Relic of first millennial saint Carlo Acutis venerated in Hegewisch
Back in 2009, Italian Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, bishop of Assisi, saw that the pastor of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore had put up a picture of Carlo Acutis, a late devout Catholic and internet expert. Acutis, a British-born teen who became known in Assisi and beyond for his devotion to the Eucharist, had died in 2006 at age 15. But he had an outsized spiritual impact during his short life, using his computer programming skills to establish popular religious websites in Italy, including one devoted to documenting Eucharistic miracles. 'I didn't know him when I arrived in Assisi,' Sorrentino told people gathered at a church last week in Hegewisch. 'I saw many young people come. I saw Carlo had a power of collecting young people.' Acutis is set to be canonized as the Catholic Church's first millennial saint on Sept. 7. Sorrentino, who is the curator of Acutis' tomb and relic in Assisi, delivered a message of hope and rebirth July 16 at Christ Our Light Parish — St. Florian Church in Chicago's Hegewisch neighborhood while leading a veneration of a relic of Acutis, a muscle from his heart. People began showing up at St. Florian more than an hour before the service was set to start, filling the pews by the time the service started. 'This is amazing to have a soon-to-be canonized saint like Carlo so close to our home,' said Karina Bermejo, who was accompanied by several family members. 'To have the archbishop of Assisi is also remarkable.' Fellow parishioner Adriana Rodriguez came with her father, Jose, who was also in awe. 'The significance of being able to see in real life a piece of somebody who is going to be canonized a saint,' said Rodriguez. 'Sometimes when we think about saints, we think about the old or in the past. To be able to witness this in our time is incredible,' she said. Bringing the relic here, Rodriguez said, would enable her to more fully participate in Acutis' canonization in Italy. 'Some people can't go to Italy to be present,' she said. 'Because of this event, we're going to be present in spirit.' Sorrentino also visited other parishes with the relic, including St. Hedwig Church in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, part of Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish, the first parish in North America named for the soon-to-be saint. The Rev. David Simonetti, pastor of St. Florian Church, had the opportunity to invite Sorrentino by chance, and was thrilled that he came. 'Archbishop Sorrentino was in Seattle and my classmate is in a parish there,' Simonetti said. 'My friend called me and said Sorrentino had a free day, would you like him to come to your parish? I said I certainly would.' Mark Martich, a St. Florian member who was greeting visitors as they came in, said he hadn't heard much about Acutis prior to the relic service. 'It really piqued my curiosity about what he accomplished,' Martich said, adding Acutis' canonization might be a good way to 'get the young ones involved in the church.' Sorrentino agreed, saying Acutis has become a symbol of hope as well as a bridge between generations in the internet age. 'My friends, don't worry, don't be afraid, it is the little boys who teach their grandfathers about computers,' he said. '(Acutis) will teach you the language of this world.' That youthful aspect, he said, could create waves throughout the world. 'Can the church be young again after 2,000 years?' Sorrentino asked. 'Can the church say something very interesting that touches and moves many? 'Carlo would say the Eucharist is my highway to heaven. … It's time to be young again.'
Perth Now
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Italian teenager set to become the first millennial saint
The canonisation of Carlo Acutis, the Catholic Church's first millennial saint, will take place on September 7, Pope Leo XIV has announced. Acutis, an Italian teenager who died from leukaemia in 2006, will be declared a saint by Leo at a ceremony in St Peter's Square expected to be attended by thousands of young people. Acutis was just 15 when he died, but during his short life he used his computing skills to spread awareness of the Catholic faith by setting up a website that documented reports of miracles. The Vatican said on Friday that following a meeting with cardinals, Pope Leo will canonise Acutis in September, along with another youthful saint, Pier Giorgio Frassatti, who died in 1925 at age 24. Acutis' canonisation had been scheduled for April 27 but was postponed after the death of Pope Francis. The September 7 ceremony will be the first canonisation presided over by Pope Leo, the first American pontiff. Acutis, nicknamed God's influencer, has developed a strong following among young Catholics and beyond. The British-born Italian teenager, who loved video-gaming, is often depicted wearing jeans and trainers, making him a relatable figure to a new generation of Catholics. His canonisation also comes as recent surveys in the United Kingdom and United States show a rise in interest in Catholicism among Generation Z. The church's sainthood process normally requires that candidates have two miracles attributed to them, with each reported supernatural occurrence requiring in-depth examination. In May, a second miracle attributed to Acutis was recognised by Pope Francis, a decision that paved the way for the teen to be declared a saint. Acutis was beatified (declared 'blessed') in 2020 after his first miracle, when he reportedly healed a Brazilian boy with a birth defect that left him unable to eat normally. The boy was reportedly healed after his mother said she prayed to Acutis to intercede and help heal her son. The second miracle attributed to Acutis relates to the reported healing of a girl from Costa Rica who had suffered a head trauma after falling from her bicycle in Florence, Italy, where she was studying. Her mother said she prayed for her daughter's recovery at the tomb of Acutis in Assisi. Acutis' mother, Antonia Salzano, previously said that her son spent time helping the homeless in Milan and giving his pocket money to those sleeping on the street.
7NEWS
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Italian teenager Carlo Acutis set to become the first millennial saint
The canonisation of Carlo Acutis, the Catholic Church's first millennial saint, will take place on September 7, Pope Leo XIV has announced. Acutis, an Italian teenager who died from leukaemia in 2006, will be declared a saint by Leo at a ceremony in St Peter's Square expected to be attended by thousands of young people. Acutis was just 15 when he died, but during his short life he used his computing skills to spread awareness of the Catholic faith by setting up a website that documented reports of miracles. The Vatican said on Friday that following a meeting with cardinals, Pope Leo will canonise Acutis in September, along with another youthful saint, Pier Giorgio Frassatti, who died in 1925 at age 24. Acutis' canonisation had been scheduled for April 27 but was postponed after the death of Pope Francis. The September 7 ceremony will be the first canonisation presided over by Pope Leo, the first American pontiff. Acutis, nicknamed God's influencer, has developed a strong following among young Catholics and beyond. The British-born Italian teenager, who loved video-gaming, is often depicted wearing jeans and trainers, making him a relatable figure to a new generation of Catholics. His canonisation also comes as recent surveys in the United Kingdom and United States show a rise in interest in Catholicism among Generation Z. The church's sainthood process normally requires that candidates have two miracles attributed to them, with each reported supernatural occurrence requiring in-depth examination. In May, a second miracle attributed to Acutis was recognised by Pope Francis, a decision that paved the way for the teen to be declared a saint. Acutis was beatified (declared 'blessed') in 2020 after his first miracle, when he reportedly healed a Brazilian boy with a birth defect that left him unable to eat normally. The boy was reportedly healed after his mother said she prayed to Acutis to intercede and help heal her son. The second miracle attributed to Acutis relates to the reported healing of a girl from Costa Rica who had suffered a head trauma after falling from her bicycle in Florence, Italy, where she was studying. Her mother said she prayed for her daughter's recovery at the tomb of Acutis in Assisi. Acutis' mother, Antonia Salzano, previously said that her son spent time helping the homeless in Milan and giving his pocket money to those sleeping on the street.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vatican sets date for first millennial saint to be canonized
The Vatican has announced that the first millennial saint will be canonized in September. Pope Leo XIV made an announcement during a meeting with cardinals that Carlo Acutis will be inscribed into the Book of Saints on September 7. Acutis died at the age of 15 in Northern Italy after a short bout with leukemia in 2006, according to the Associated Press. Before Pope Francis's death on April 21, Acutis was set to be canonized on April 27 during the Vatican's Jubilee of Teenagers. Pope Leo Xiv Vows To Work For Unity, Peace During Inaugural Mass During his life, Acutis spent most of his time like any normal teenager would, while also giving time back to both the church and the community. Read On The Fox News App According to the Associated Press, Acutis taught Catholicism at a local church and volunteered to help the homeless. Acutis also used his computer coding skills to create a website highlighting more than 100 eucharistic miracles recognized by the church. Exclusive: Carlo Acutis' Mom Describes Transformation From Being Non-religious To Mother Of A Saint The first intercession by Acutis came from his own mother, Antonia, who told Fox News that it came four years after his death. "When Carlo died, I was 39 years old, and then I started to try to have other children. I said, 'I'm still young, maybe I can try, no?' [But] the children didn't arrive. Then I had started on my practice to adopt a child, but in Italy, it's very difficult... I had lost all my hopes to have children by myself," she explained. "Once I dreamed about Carlo, he told me, 'listen, you will become, again, a mother. Don't worry.' And, one month after, I became pregnant." According to the National Catholic Register, the Vatican has recognized a second miracle by intercession on May 23, 2024. The miracle involved a 21-year-old Costa Rican woman named Valeria Valverde. Valverde sustained a serious brain injury in a bicycle accident while residing in Florence, Italy in 2022. Valverde was not expected to survive the injury. However, she made a full recovery after her mother visited Acutis's tomb and prayed for his intercession, according to the National Catholic Register. Acutis's tomb, which is located in Assisi, has been visited frequently by Catholics, most notably younger Catholics. Acutis will be joined by the blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati when he is inscribed in the book of saints. Fox News Digital's Laura Carrione contributed to this article source: Vatican sets date for first millennial saint to be canonized
New York Post
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Pope Leo sets date for cannonization of first millennial saint Carlo Acutis
Pope Leo XIV on Friday set Sept. 7 as the rescheduled date to canonize the Catholic Church's first millennial-era saint Carlo Acutis. Leo made the announcement during a meeting of cardinals, known as a consistory, to set the dates for a handful of new saints. Acutis' canonization was originally scheduled for April 27, but was postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. 6 Carlo Acutis will be canonized on Sept. 7, 2025, Pope Leo XIV said. 6 Acutis died when he was 15 from leukemia in 2006. AFP via Getty Images Acutis was 15 when he died in northern Italy in 2006, after a short bout with leukemia. He has become enormously popular, especially among young Catholics who have been flocking to his tomb in Assisi. While he enjoyed regular pastimes for his age — hiking, video games, and joking around with friends – he also taught catechism in a local parish and did outreach to the homeless. He used his computer skills to create an online exhibit about more than 100 eucharistic miracles recognized by the church over many centuries. 6 Leo made the announcement during a meeting of cardinals, known as a consistory, to set the dates for a handful of new saints. Getty Images 6 His tomb in Assisi has become a pilgrimage site, especially during the 2025 Holy Year. Getty Images 6 It features a glass coffin in which Acutis can be seen dressed in sneakers, jeans, and a sweatshirt. AFP via Getty Images 6 Acutis' canonization was originally scheduled for April 27, but was postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Getty Images His tomb in Assisi has become a pilgrimage site, especially during the 2025 Holy Year. It features a glass coffin in which Acutis can be seen dressed in sneakers, jeans, and a sweatshirt. In setting the Sept. 7 date, Leo announced that Acutis would be canonized along with another Italian Catholic, Pier Giorgio Frassati, who also died young at age 24 after contracting polio.
