From Teenager to Saint: The Roadmap of Carlo Acutis
The Catholic Church is about to name the first saint who was a "Millennial!" And he is making a big splash! In an era where young people are often seen as distant from faith, Carlo Acutis gives us an example of a new path to reality and holiness in this digital world. Born in 1991 and raised in Milan, Italy, he will be canonized on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
He grew up as a typical teenager, playing soccer, video games, and the saxophone. His young faith blossomed alongside his deep love for the Eucharist as he attended Mass daily, making it central to his life. Carlo’s use of technology to spread the Gospel and document Eucharistic miracles worldwide shows how technology can be a powerful tool for good and for evangelization.
Carlo passed away from leukemia at the age of 15, inspiring multitudes of people with his courage and faith. As a celebrated role model for young people, Carlo showed that holiness is achievable at any age. One of his famous quotes is, “To always be close to Jesus!” His life and words continue to inspire us to cultivate a close relationship with Jesus through prayer, the Eucharist, Confession, visiting holy sites, and helping others in need.
Just recently, I received a letter from the pastor in Crest Hill. Last year, in Phase II of our Targeted Restructuring Process, the parishes of St. Ambrose and St. Anne were united to form one new parish. Since then, the parish has entered a process of unification and renaming. He shared with me how the parishioners actively submitted recommendations for a new name for their parish. Originally, 90 names were submitted. After discernment through listening sessions and small groups, the selection was narrowed down to the top three names. Then, those three possibilities were given to me for my final choice. All three names were strong and worthy. However, after a time of prayer and reflection, one name stood out clearly for me… Saint Carlo Acutis!
By naming the newly united parish after him, we are not just honoring his memory but also encouraging parishioners to emulate his example of living faith boldly in today’s world through the Eucharist. As we strive to pass on our faith to the next generations through catechesis, evangelization, and faith in action, this newly minted saint will hopefully inspire us, both now and into the future.
If you would like to learn more about Carlo Acutis, I encourage you to see the new film, “Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality.” For three days, April 27-29, 2025, it will be shown in 945 theaters across the United States. Once the first 5,000 tickets are sold, the film has been guaranteed an additional three days in theaters.
I saw clips of this film at a preview during the November meetings for the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. I was fascinated by the life of Carlo Acutis and his impact on the youth of today. I also learned that all proceeds from this film will benefit causes for the youth, support the further spread of the Gospel, and help fund future National Eucharistic Congresses.
I invite you to consider seeing this movie as an individual, as a family, as a youth group, and/or as a parish outing. This is a great opportunity for us to learn more about a young saint and help evangelize others by inviting them to see it. You can purchase tickets through a pre-sale program. Locations and advance ticket sales are now available at www.carloacutisfilm.com. Even if you cannot see the movie right now, I urge you to visit this website, watch the trailer, and share it with others!
Before dying from leukemia, Carlo said, “Do not be afraid because with the Incarnation of Jesus, death becomes life, and there’s no need to escape: in eternal life, something extraordinary awaits us.” These saintly words highlight Carlo’s deep faith in Jesus and encourage us on the way to holiness.
On Sunday, April 27, 2025, with fervent devotion and enthusiastic hope, please join me and the universal Catholic Church – no matter what your age – in exclaiming, “Saint Carlo Acutis, pray for us!”
