Carlo Acutis, who died at 15 in 2006, has long been called the"patron saint of the internet." After many years, two miracles and Vatican approval, he's officially set to be canonized, likely in 2025.An image of 15-year-old Carlo Acutis is unveiled during his beatification ceremony at the St. Francis Basilica in Assisi, Italy, in October 2020.
Monday's approval clears the final hurdle in a multiyear process, which began in 2013 when the pope approved the cause for his beatification and canonization and named him"a Servant of God."First, the Pope must declare a deceased person"Venerable," a formal recognition that they lived a heroically virtuous life. In order to be beatified — and recognized as"Blessed"— they must have taken part in a miracle, which is usually one of healing.
Acutis ultimately cataloged more than 150 miracles, listing them in over a dozen languages and building out downloadable web pages for each with maps and other visuals.