A contemporary witness to the faith
On September 7, the Catholic Church will celebrate the canonization of Carlo Acutis, a young man who, despite dying at the age of 15 in 2006, left a profound mark with his vibrant faith and pioneering vision in the use of technology for evangelization. Born in London in 1991 and raised in Milan, Acutis showed exceptional devotion to the Eucharist from an early age, which would become the central focus of his short life and spiritual legacy.
Eucharistic faith and ordinary life
According to testimonies gathered, such as that of Franciscan friar Carlos Acácio Gonçalves Ferreira, what distinguished Carlo was his "unshakeable faith in the real and living presence of Jesus in the Eucharist." This conviction, nurtured since childhood by the example of his grandmother and his nanny, led him to write on the day of his First Communion that his life plan was "to always be united with Jesus." Despite his interests common to a teenager of his time, such as video games and the saxophone, his spiritual maturity surprised those who knew him.
The internet at the service of the Gospel
Self-taught in computer science, Carlo Acutis perceived the evangelizing potential of the web at a time when it was a less explored area for the Church. His best-known initiative was the creation of a website dedicated to documenting Eucharistic miracles around the world, a project that took him two years of research. Motivated by the contrast between empty churches and crowded entertainment venues, he sought to demonstrate in an accessible way the reality of Christ's presence in the Eucharist, even drawing on scientific studies that validated these phenomena. This digital work later materialized in books, documentaries, and traveling exhibitions.
Charity and authenticity: the fruit of his spirituality
His love for the Eucharist translated into concrete and discreet charity. He helped poor people, collaborated with neighbors, and allocated part of his weekly allowance to those most in need. For him, holiness was synonymous with authenticity, an idea he summed up in his phrase: "We are all born original, but many die as copies." He also applied this principle to the communication of the faith, encouraging people to live the "best version of themselves" according to God's plan, without falling into the imitation of superficial models.
The path to sainthood
Carlo Acutis died on October 12, 2006, of leukemia. Beatified in 2020, his canonization was approved after the Vatican recognized a second miracle attributed to his intercession: the complete and scientifically inexplicable healing of Valeria Valverde, a young Costa Rican woman who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury in Italy. After her family's prayers to Carlo, the young woman recovered without any sequelae, a case studied and validated by the medical and theological commissions of the Holy See.
A model for the younger generation
For many, Carlo Acutis stands as a particularly close model for young people and Catholic communicators. His life shows that holiness is compatible with the digital age and that technological tools can be put at the service of truth and peace. His legacy is an invitation to live a deep faith, centered on the Eucharist, and to communicate it with authenticity and creativity in the contemporary world.
Original source: osaopaulo.org.br (published September 4, 2025)
Photo: Tamara Govedarovic on Unsplash
