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Epoch Times
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
‘Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality': The First Millennial Saint
NR | 1h 35m | Documentary | 2025 So far, the documentary 'Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality,' about the first millennial saint, has one review on Rotten Tomatoes. That's similar to two other recent faith-based documentaries, ' America's entire film critic body ignores these films, due to the atheism that undergirds coastal New York and LA-based liberalism. However, the audience rating stands at 97 and 98 percent for these 3 documentaries. That means, in the grand scheme of things, that the film critic body consists of two tiny atheist archipelagos bordering vast a sea of faith. Carlo Acutis, secnd from left, poses with friends in 'Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality.' (Castletown Media) Castletown Media Sainthood Writer-director-producer Tim Moriarty's 'Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality' is about the short life and times of Carlo Acutis, who died in 2006 of leukemia at the age of 15. Acutis was scheduled to be canonized on April 27, 2025, but the ceremony was postponed due to the death of Pope Francis. A canonization can only be proclaimed by a pope, so the rite has to be wait until after the coming papal Acutis's impact on the world was clearly profound. Getting into Harvard is hard; making it into the U.S. Navy SEAL teams is arguably harder; but attaining canonization is the hardest thing humans can do. It takes a miracle. Literally. It actually takes two miracles to be declared a saint in the Catholic Church. Class Trip Students from the University of Mary go on a pilgrimage to the tomb of Carlo Acutis in 'Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality.' Carlo was a regular millennial kid in many ways. He was a coder and a gamer who played soccer. Talking-head interviews with Acutis's family, friends, and various Catholic thought-leaders speak to the young Carlo's precocious, deep devotion to Christ, as well as to the Eucharist. That's the ceremony commemorating the Last Supper in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed. Acutis created a website dedicated to chronicling Marian apparitions, as well as Eucharistic miracles. It provides a platform for the scientifically studied cases where the wafers and bread used in the ceremony bled inexplicably. Related Stories 10/16/2024 3/28/2025 Also, a group of students from the University of Mary in North Dakota take a Both the trip and no cellphone usage are meant to liberate the students from the depression, isolation, fragmentation, and weakening bonds of interpersonal relationships the world is currently experiencing. Sharing about their spiritual journeys is encouraged. The film opens with a reminder that over-reliance on photocopies, as well as the internet, weaken reality. Some students have a powerful faith. But others, born into Catholicism, are probably in need of an Amish-style 'rumspringa,' where young men and women leave the spiritual community for a year. They drink, smoke, expose themselves to a little or a lot of the debauchery the world is now steeped in, and then reassess. This part of the film felt like a sacred version of Stephen King's ' Rod Dreher, an American conservative writer and editor living in Hungary, expounds on the life of Carlo Acutis in 'Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality.' (Castletown Media) According to Carlo's father, Assisi was Carlo's favorite place. In 2019, his body was exhumed and placed on display in the Church of St. Mary Maggiore. His tomb opened to the public in October 2020. Though he has been deceased for 19 years, he looks rosy-cheeked and remarkably alive, owing to the silicone that the Church has fitted over his face and hands. Miracles The film then goes on to discuss the two miracles attributed to Carlo Acutis. The first, in 2013, involved a Brazilian boy born with a malformed pancreas. He wasn't expected to live past 5 years old. He was miraculously healed after his mother prayed for Acutis's intercession, after Acutis's death. The second case took place in 2022, in Florence, Italy, where a 21-year-old woman suffered a head injury in a bicycle accident. Though she had almost no chance of survival, her mother prayed at Acutis's tomb in Assisi. On the exact same day, her daughter's condition drastically improved, and she eventually experienced a full recovery. Family photo of Carlo Acutis in 'Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality.' Castletown Media A Role Model As a former summer camp counselor, I particularly enjoyed being reminded of the innocence and open-mindedness of young teens. 'Carlo Acutis' depicts in real time how the students are affected by the holiness of someone of their own era, who walked in their shoes, and used the internet the way it's supposed to be used. Per the film's title, Acutis's life is a roadmap to sainthood, intended to be achievable for every person. It's difficult to get a sense of Carlo, the person, via this film, other than what his mother and friends relate. They say he was highly persuasive in getting his friends interested and enthusiastic regarding all things faith-based. In this day and age when cynicism and skepticism know no bounds, that speaks to a remarkable level of warmth, energy, and charisma. It's often mentioned that Carlo befriended the homeless and downtrodden. Other articles written about him talk about his chastity. His mother related that he would close his eyes during risqué television commercials. He is reported to have described the Virgin Mary as 'the only woman in my life.' Vatican investigators reviewed Carlo's browsing history, and found that during all those hours at his computer, he never visited pornographic sites. Carlo Acutis recognized the internet as an important tool. His website was intended to pique people's interest, subvert and usurp the devil's influence, and harness the internet to evangelize. Like Father Flanagan before him, Carlo Acutis wanted all of humanity to embrace its true path—that of sainthood. The premiere of 'Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality' was April 21st. Some cities will be extending the theatrical run until May 8th. To find a theater near you showing the film, go to: Promotional poster for 'Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality.' Castletown Media 'Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality' Director: Tim Moriarty, Christian Surtz Documentary Running Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes Release Date: April 27, 2025 Rating: 4 stars out of 5 Would you like to see other kinds of arts and culture articles? Please email us your story ideas or feedback at
Washington Post
26-04-2025
- General
- Washington Post
They came for the canonization of a millennial saint. They stayed for Pope Francis' funeral
VATICAN CITY — Thousands of young people from around the world had come to Rome expecting to rejoice this weekend in the canonization of the first millennial saint during the Vatican's Holy Year. They ended up bidding farewell to Pope Francis instead, with their exuberance giving an uplifting tone to Saturday's otherwise somber funeral. 'He always said you have to be joyful about life, you have to live life in a similar way,' said Marco Falchi, who traveled from his home near Perugia with his wife and 11-year-old son. He and his wife credit Francis with reviving their spirituality, and they named their son, Francesco, after him. The family is also devoted to the cause of sainthood for Carlo Acutis , a young Italian who died in 2006 from leukemia and inspired faith in many young Catholics . They planned their trip to Rome around that. The canonization of Acutis had been scheduled for Sunday during the first-ever Jubilee of Adolescents, dedicated to teens. It was suspended after Francis' death on Monday. Falchi was struck by the lack of deep mourning at the funeral for the pope, and he is convinced Francis would have been pleased. 'Especially since this was the jubilee for adolescents, he certainly didn't want a day of mourning but he wanted a day of joy,' he said. There was a clear blue sky over St. Peter's Square. Some people camped out the night before to get a good spot. Many stood respectfully, their hands folded, as they followed the Mass on large screens. Radio broadcasts in multiple languages added to the hum of humanity. They applauded when Francis' simple wooden coffin was moved outdoors. Tens of thousands of Catholic faithful had planned their trips before the pope's death . 'I bought my ticket for Carlo,' said Reyes Arribas, a 23-year-old from Valencia, Spain. 'And then suddenly Pope Francis died, so I came to the funeral.' She confessed that while she admired Francis, she felt a closer affinity to his predecessors, St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Her feelings for Acutis, however, are very strong. She excitedly praised him as 'the first saint of young people' because he was immersed in the technological world of today. Even those who were disappointed by the suspended canonization were gratified that they could celebrate Francis, loved by many for his humility and concern for the poor. 'I feel like I grew up with Pope Francis,' said Jessica Naranjo, a 27-year-old from Austin, Texas. 'I felt very connected with him in the way he advocated for social justice and the environment. This was a big loss for me.' 'I'm disappointed that I'm here celebrating the pope's life instead of celebrating with the pope,' she said. Ana Kalen, a 22-year-old medical student, traveled to Rome for the Acutis canonization with a group from Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. 'The plans have changed, but we are still so glad to be here for this historical moment,' Kalen said, a Bosnian flag draped over her shoulders. 'We are sad about each death. But we do believe that Pope Francis is in a better place.' After St. John Paul II died in 2005, the mood was different. The faithful made pilgrimages from his Polish homeland and elsewhere to mourn a towering figure of the 20th century in a spirit of deep sadness and loss. Francis had a different style. During his 12-year papacy, he urged people to maintain a sense of humor, and that spirit seemed to guide many participants Saturday. Groups of young people filled St. Peter's Square before the funeral Mass. One from a parish in Cassano Magnago in the northern Italian province of Varese danced in circle and sang religious songs. The pope's death during Easter season filled them with a sense of peace, one teenager said. 'It's a good sign,' said 16-year-old Matteo Cozzi. 'The death of a pope at Easter is a sign of hope.'
26-04-2025
- General
They came for the canonization of a millennial saint. They stayed for Pope Francis' funeral
VATICAN CITY -- Thousands of young people from around the world had come to Rome expecting to rejoice this weekend in the canonization of the first millennial saint during the Vatican's Holy Year. They ended up bidding farewell to Pope Francis instead, with their exuberance giving an uplifting tone to Saturday's otherwise somber funeral. 'He always said you have to be joyful about life, you have to live life in a similar way,' said Marco Falchi, who traveled from his home near Perugia with his wife and 11-year-old son. He and his wife credit Francis with reviving their spirituality, and they named their son, Francesco, after him. The family is also devoted to the cause of sainthood for Carlo Acutis, a young Italian who died in 2006 from leukemia and inspired faith in many young Catholics. They planned their trip to Rome around that. The canonization of Acutis had been scheduled for Sunday during the first-ever Jubilee of Adolescents, dedicated to teens. It was suspended after Francis' death. Falchi was struck by the lack of deep mourning at the funeral for the pope. 'Especially since this was the jubilee for adolescents, he certainly didn't want a day of mourning but he wanted a day of joy,' he said. There was a clear blue sky over St. Peter's Square. Some people camped out the night before to get a good spot. Many stood respectfully, their hands folded, as they followed the Mass on large screens. Radio broadcasts in multiple languages added to the hum of humanity. They applauded when Francis' simple wooden coffin was moved outdoors. Tens of thousands of Catholic faithful had planned their trips before the pope's death on Monday at age 88 following a long hospitalization. 'I bought my ticket for Carlo,' said Reyes Arribas, a 23-year-old from Valencia, Spain. 'And then suddenly Pope Francis died, so I came to the funeral.' She confessed that while she admired Francis, she felt a closer affinity to his predecessors, St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Her feelings for Acutis, however, are very strong. She excitedly praised him as 'the first saint of young people' because he was immersed in the technological world of today. Even those who were disappointed by the suspended canonization were gratified that they could celebrate Francis, loved by many for his humility and concern for the poor. 'I feel I grew up with Pope Francis,' said Jessica Naranjo, a 27-year-old from Austin, Texas. 'He advocated for social justice. This was a big loss for me.' Ana Kalen, a 22-year-old medical student, traveled to Rome for the Acutis canonization with a group from Sarajevo, Bosnia. 'The plans have changed, but we are still so glad to be here for this historical moment,' Kalen said, a Bosnian flag draped over her shoulders. 'We are sad about each death,' Kalen said. 'But we do believe that Pope Francis is in a better place.' After St. John Paul II died in 2005, the mood was different. The faithful made pilgrimages from his Polish homeland and elsewhere to mourn a towering figure of the 20th century in a spirit of deep sadness and loss. Francis had a different style. During his 12-year papacy, he urged people to maintain a sense of humor, and that spirit seemed to guide many participants Saturday. Groups of young people filled St. Peter's Square before the funeral Mass. One from a parish in Cassano Magnago in the northern Italian province of Varese danced in circle and sang religious songs. The pope's death during Easter season filled them with a sense of peace, one teenager said. 'It's a good sign,' said 16-year-old Matteo Cozzi. 'The death of a pope at Easter is a sign of hope.'
Hamilton Spectator
26-04-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
They came for the canonization of a millennial saint. They stayed for Pope Francis' funeral
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Thousands of young people from around the world had come to Rome expecting to rejoice this weekend in the canonization of the first millennial saint during the Vatican's Holy Year. They ended up bidding farewell to Pope Francis instead, with their exuberance giving an uplifting tone to Saturday's otherwise somber funeral. 'He always said you have to be joyful about life, you have to live life in a similar way,' said Marco Falchi, who traveled from his home near Perugia with his wife and 11-year-old son. He and his wife credit Francis with reviving their spirituality, and they named their son, Francesco, after him. The family is also devoted to the cause of sainthood for Carlo Acutis , a young Italian who died in 2006 from leukemia and inspired faith in many young Catholics . They planned their trip to Rome around that. The canonization of Acutis had been scheduled for Sunday during the first-ever Jubilee of Adolescents, dedicated to teens. It was suspended after Francis' death. Falchi was struck by the lack of deep mourning at the funeral for the pope. 'Especially since this was the jubilee for adolescents, he certainly didn't want a day of mourning but he wanted a day of joy,' he said. There was a clear blue sky over St. Peter's Square. Some people camped out the night before to get a good spot. Many stood respectfully, their hands folded, as they followed the Mass on large screens. Radio broadcasts in multiple languages added to the hum of humanity. They applauded when Francis' simple wooden coffin was moved outdoors. Tens of thousands of Catholic faithful had planned their trips before the pope's death on Monday at age 88 following a long hospitalization. 'I bought my ticket for Carlo,' said Reyes Arribas, a 23-year-old from Valencia, Spain. 'And then suddenly Pope Francis died, so I came to the funeral.' She confessed that while she admired Francis, she felt a closer affinity to his predecessors, St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Her feelings for Acutis, however, are very strong. She excitedly praised him as 'the first saint of young people' because he was immersed in the technological world of today. Even those who were disappointed by the suspended canonization were gratified that they could celebrate Francis, loved by many for his humility and concern for the poor. 'I feel I grew up with Pope Francis,' said Jessica Naranjo, a 27-year-old from Austin, Texas. 'He advocated for social justice. This was a big loss for me.' Ana Kalen, a 22-year-old medical student, traveled to Rome for the Acutis canonization with a group from Sarajevo, Bosnia. 'The plans have changed, but we are still so glad to be here for this historical moment,' Kalen said, a Bosnian flag draped over her shoulders. 'We are sad about each death,' Kalen said. 'But we do believe that Pope Francis is in a better place.' After St. John Paul II died in 2005, the mood was different. The faithful made pilgrimages from his Polish homeland and elsewhere to mourn a towering figure of the 20th century in a spirit of deep sadness and loss. Francis had a different style. During his 12-year papacy, he urged people to maintain a sense of humor, and that spirit seemed to guide many participants Saturday. Groups of young people filled St. Peter's Square before the funeral Mass. One from a parish in Cassano Magnago in the northern Italian province of Varese danced in circle and sang religious songs. The pope's death during Easter season filled them with a sense of peace, one teenager said. 'It's a good sign,' said 16-year-old Matteo Cozzi. 'The death of a pope at Easter is a sign of hope.'
Winnipeg Free Press
26-04-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
They came for the canonization of a millennial saint. They stayed for Pope Francis' funeral
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Thousands of young people from around the world had come to Rome expecting to rejoice this weekend in the canonization of the first millennial saint during the Vatican's Holy Year. They ended up bidding farewell to Pope Francis instead, with their exuberance giving an uplifting tone to Saturday's otherwise somber funeral. 'He always said you have to be joyful about life, you have to live life in a similar way,' said Marco Falchi, who traveled from his home near Perugia with his wife and 11-year-old son. He and his wife credit Francis with reviving their spirituality, and they named their son, Francesco, after him. The family is also devoted to the cause of sainthood for Carlo Acutis, a young Italian who died in 2006 from leukemia and inspired faith in many young Catholics. They planned their trip to Rome around that. The canonization of Acutis had been scheduled for Sunday during the first-ever Jubilee of Adolescents, dedicated to teens. It was suspended after Francis' death. Falchi was struck by the lack of deep mourning at the funeral for the pope. 'Especially since this was the jubilee for adolescents, he certainly didn't want a day of mourning but he wanted a day of joy,' he said. There was a clear blue sky over St. Peter's Square. Some people camped out the night before to get a good spot. Many stood respectfully, their hands folded, as they followed the Mass on large screens. Radio broadcasts in multiple languages added to the hum of humanity. They applauded when Francis' simple wooden coffin was moved outdoors. Tens of thousands of Catholic faithful had planned their trips before the pope's death on Monday at age 88 following a long hospitalization. 'I bought my ticket for Carlo,' said Reyes Arribas, a 23-year-old from Valencia, Spain. 'And then suddenly Pope Francis died, so I came to the funeral.' She confessed that while she admired Francis, she felt a closer affinity to his predecessors, St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Her feelings for Acutis, however, are very strong. She excitedly praised him as 'the first saint of young people' because he was immersed in the technological world of today. Even those who were disappointed by the suspended canonization were gratified that they could celebrate Francis, loved by many for his humility and concern for the poor. 'I feel I grew up with Pope Francis,' said Jessica Naranjo, a 27-year-old from Austin, Texas. 'He advocated for social justice. This was a big loss for me.' Ana Kalen, a 22-year-old medical student, traveled to Rome for the Acutis canonization with a group from Sarajevo, Bosnia. 'The plans have changed, but we are still so glad to be here for this historical moment,' Kalen said, a Bosnian flag draped over her shoulders. 'We are sad about each death,' Kalen said. 'But we do believe that Pope Francis is in a better place.' During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. After St. John Paul II died in 2005, the mood was different. The faithful made pilgrimages from his Polish homeland and elsewhere to mourn a towering figure of the 20th century in a spirit of deep sadness and loss. Francis had a different style. During his 12-year papacy, he urged people to maintain a sense of humor, and that spirit seemed to guide many participants Saturday. Groups of young people filled St. Peter's Square before the funeral Mass. One from a parish in Cassano Magnago in the northern Italian province of Varese danced in circle and sang religious songs. The pope's death during Easter season filled them with a sense of peace, one teenager said. 'It's a good sign,' said 16-year-old Matteo Cozzi. 'The death of a pope at Easter is a sign of hope.'
