‘God's Influencer' to become first millennial saint in September
Souvenirs of Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 aged 15, are displayed in a shop in Assisi, Italy. PHOTO: REUTERS
'God's Influencer' to become first millennial saint in September
VATICAN CITY – Italian millennial Carlo Acutis, dubbed 'God's Influencer', will be elevated to sainthood in September after the original ceremony was delayed by Pope Francis' death in April, the Vatican said June 13.
Pope Leo XIV rescheduled to Sept 7 the canonisation of Acutis, who died of leukaemia in 2006 at the age of 15. He had been set to be made a saint on April 27.
Nicknamed the 'Cyber Apostle', the teenager had an ardent faith from a young age and used his computer skills to spread the Catholic faith online, notably creating a digital exhibition on miracles.
Italian student Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925), renowned for his social commitment and passion for mountain climbing, will be canonised on the same day.
Pope Leo will raise seven others to sainthood on Oct 19.
They include Papua New Guinea's first saint Pierre To Rot, a lay catechist executed by Japan in 1945; archbishop Ignace Shoukrallah Maloyan, who died in 1915; and the Venezuelan 'doctor of the poor' Jose Gregorio Hernandez Cisneros, who died in 1919. AFP
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