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Carlo Acutis was an Italian boy born in London on May 3, 1991, and raised in Milan. He loved going out with friends, playing the saxophone, being outdoors and animals, computer science and video games, but above all he had a deep love for Jesus. “Being always united to Jesus, this is my life program,” he wrote when he was only seven years old. He died at just fifteen years old, on October 12, 2006, from a fulminant leukemia. Today he is known throughout the world as the first saint of the digital age, proclaimed on September 7, 2025, in St. Peter's by Pope Leo XIV.

The Church recognized in Carlo a life lived in an extraordinary way, even within ordinary life. Carlo was able to turn every day into an opportunity to love God and neighbor: he helped those in need, taught catechism to children, and volunteered at the soup kitchen. After the recognition of two miracles attributed to his intercession, he was proclaimed a saint.

His popularity comes from the union of a deep faith and a completely normal life. Carlo studied, went out with friends, played video games, and used the computer, while at the same time putting his time at the service of others. His witness continues to inspire millions of people because it shows how it is possible to live one's faith in the contemporary world without giving up one's passions.

Long before the arrival of social networks, Carlo realized that the Internet could become an extraordinary tool for evangelization. He created websites, cataloged Eucharistic miracles, and put his computer skills at the service of faith. He was not looking for followers or personal fame: he simply wanted to help other people encounter Jesus. For this reason, today he is remembered as "God's influencer".

Yes. From childhood he showed exceptional talent for computer science. He studied university manuals, built websites, used professional graphic software, and developed complex projects. He collaborated on the creation of several websites and devoted many hours to producing the online exhibition on Eucharistic miracles, now translated into numerous languages and spread throughout the world.

Yes, but in moderation. Like many boys his age, he loved video games, but he set himself a precise limit: about one hour a week. For him, fun was important, but it should never become an addiction or take away space from relationships with others.

In 2006, Carlo was struck by a very aggressive form of myeloid leukemia. The illness appeared suddenly and worsened within a few days. He died on October 12, at the age of fifteen. During the illness, he offered his suffering "for the Pope and for the Church," facing his last days with a serenity that deeply moved those close to him.

Carlo's body rests in the Sanctuary of the Spoliation in Assisi, one of the most significant places of Franciscan spirituality. His tomb is visited every year by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world and is now one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Italy.

Carlo deeply loved Saint Francis and found Assisi to be a place of peace, silence, and prayer. He spent part of his summer holidays there with his family and considered the city a spiritual point of reference. It is no coincidence that he expressed the wish to be buried there and that today Assisi is the place that holds his tomb.

His best-known quote is: "All are born as originals, but many die as photocopies." With these words, Carlo encouraged young people not to chase trends or the judgment of others, but to become the best version of themselves, putting their talents at the service of good. Another of his famous quotes is: "The Eucharist is my highway to heaven." This comparison uses the highway as an analogy to explain that Mass is the fastest and most effective way to reach paradise.

Yes. Every week he brought food, hot drinks, blankets, and sleeping bags to homeless people in Milan. He knew many of them by name and tried to help them discreetly, without telling anyone. After his funeral, several homeless people came forward on their own to greet the family and thank them for what Carlo had done for them.

Carlo's parents are Andrea Acutis and Antonia Salzano. When Carlo was a child, they were not particularly practicing Catholics, but it was their son's faith and example that gradually brought them back to the Church. Today, Antonia Salzano continues to share his story through books, talks, and meetings around the world.

Because Carlo's is a form of holiness that feels possible and close, able to speak to the present and offer an idea of spiritual legacy that continues to live in today's world. His life tells us that faith can be lived in everyday life, transforming every gesture—even the simplest one—into an opportunity to do good. This is what makes his witness so relevant, especially for younger generations.

Yes, Carlo's life has been told in the official documentary made in collaboration with the Acutis family, "Carlo Acutis. The Young Saint," coming to theaters in autumn 2026.

The documentary "Carlo Acutis. The Young Saint," produced by Officina della Comunicazione, Nexo Studios, and Our Films and directed by Luca Salmaso, will be in theaters from October 15 to 21.