How a 15-Year-Old Gamer Became an Internet Saint

After being named “Servant of God” in 2013, Acutis reached the second rung on the ladder when he was honored by Pope Francis in 2018. His body was exhumed and brought to the tomb in Assisi where it still lies today, in his ’90s youth clothing line. “It is a good thing that it is the first time in history to see the saint wearing jeans, sneakers and a shirt. That is a very good message,” said Father Carlos Acácio Gonçalves Ferreira, the head of the sanctuary at the time. A Franciscan monk who lived at the tomb, noted that “many young people” had visited.

Next, Acutis and his followers needed a physical miracle—a miracle of his own making. “It must be something that cannot be explained scientifically, so proving this is difficult. For example, this may require doctors to ensure that they are able to explain how the treatment took place,” said Hutchings. In 2013, a Brazilian woman said that praying to Acutis helped cure her son’s pancreatic paralysis. In 2020 Pope Francis confirmed the miracle and Acutis was canonized, concluding with a celebration of his good life. “According to Google Trends, more people were looking for information about Carlo Acutis than about the Pope,” Mares noted.

Then in May 2024, a second miracle was witnessed, involving the healing of a 21-year-old Costa Rican girl who was injured in a bicycle accident. In 2022, his mother knelt at Acutis’ grave and prayed for his help. Her daughter then miraculously resumed breathing without support and made a full recovery. The Pope approved the canonization of Acutis in July—with an official ceremony scheduled for 2025.

It is rare for a saint to be so small and unheard of, and continue to achieve this high status so soon after his death. “It is surprising that Carlo Acutis will be anointed so close to the day he was born. In context, of the 912 saints canonized by Pope Francis, the next birthday is 1926,” said Mares. It makes him the first ever millennial saint and, as some Catholics say, “God’s inspirer” and “the patron saint of the Internet.”

Meanwhile, the religion of Carlos Acutis continues to spread throughout the world. Relics, including a piece of the sheet that covered his body, a piece of one of his shirts, and his actual heart, have traveled internationally, most recently coming to the UK on the New Dawn Catholic Pilgrimage. Online, you can buy Carlo Acutis figurines, rosary beads, posters, and souvenir key chains. In North Lanarkshire, Scotland, a life-size statue of Acutis has been erected in Carfin Grotto, and there is a stained glass window in Wiltshire to attract young churchgoers.

There’s even a comic book that tells his story, as well as a VR experience that gives players the chance to step into Acutis’ sneakers. Also, for Catholics who can’t pay their respects in person, his grave can be visited (and donated to) almost always via live streaming.

The Church does not elect saints—campaigns begin with the Catholic community—but Acutis’ popularity is matched by his desire to set a good example. It also highlights the Church’s embrace of technology. “For 58 years, the Pope has been giving an annual speech on communication technology,” said Hutchings. “It makes perfect sense for Catholics to seek an Internet saint who represents godly and faithful use of technology.”

Yes, there is still a stigma surrounding the internet’s potential for abusive behavior. Mares says: “The Pope has warned that today’s digital age constantly tempts young people to ‘seize themselves, separate themselves, and enjoy vanity.’ And some devout Catholics still resist temptation. “With technology changing so fast today, many Christians are still struggling with how to live their faith in a world of laptops, cell phones and social media,” said Mares.

But the Pope also called the Internet “a gift from God” in 2014, and he recognizes its power to spread the word of Christ – depending on how it is used. And in the case of Acutis, technology has been used in an honorable way. “Acutis used new technology the way the Church wants to use it: to encourage commitment to Catholic teaching, good living, and devotion to the rituals of the local church,” Hutchings explained. The Church will hope that the associated “saint in sneakers” who watched cartoons and surfed the web will resonate with the idol-seeking public.

This article first appeared in the November/December 2024 issue WIRED UK magazine.