Pope Leo XIV canonizes 2 Italians, one of whom was a programmer

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday canonized the first two saints of his pontificate, including a 15-year-old who sought to use technology to spread his faith, Euronews writes.

In the presence of about seventy thousand people in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV declared teen computer whiz Carlo Acutis the first millennial sant, giving the next generation of Catholics relatable role models. The pontiff also canonized another popular Italian figure who died young, Pier Giorgio Frassati.

“We declare and define Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Blessed Carlo Acutis as Saints and we inscribe them in the Roll of Saints, establishing that throughout the Church they are devoutly honoured among the Saints,” the Pope said as he read the traditional Latin formula.

Carlo Acutis, who died in 2006, is the first millennial to be canonized as a saint. Acutis was born to a wealthy family in London before moving to Italy. He was not born into a religious family, but he became increasingly devout as he grew up.

He had a particular knack for computer science and studied college-level programming even as a teen. He launched a multilingual website to document church-recognized Eucharistic miracles. He became known as “God’s Influencer” for achieving such a feat.

Frassati (1901-1925), the other young Italian saint canonized on Sunday, was born into a prominent Turin family and is known for devoting himself to serving the poor and spreading the faith to his friends.

According to The Hill, Frassati joined Catholic associations and became involved in the Italian Popular Party, and firmly believed in the need for reforms for a more just society. At just 24 years old, he died of polio, likely contracted while caring for the sick.