A teenage Italian computer scientist is about to become the first saint of the Millennial generation

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis paved the way Thursday for the canonization of the millennial generation’s first saint, attributing a second miracle to a 15-year-old Italian computer scientist who died of leukemia in 2006.

Carlo Acutis, born May 3, 1991 in London and then moved with his Italian parents to Milan as a child, was the youngest contemporary person to be beatified by Francis in Assisi in 2020.

The approval of a second miracle for Acutis was notified Thursday by the Pontiff during a meeting with the head of the Vatican’s saint-making department, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, according to a Vatican statement.

Pope Francis announced that he would convene a Consistory of cardinals to deliberate on the canonization of Acutis, along with three other blesseds.

Billed as the “patron saint of the Internet,” Acutis used his natural talent in technology to create a website for cataloging miracles and took care of the websites of some local Catholic organizations.

He was autonomous. While still in elementary school, Acutis taught himself to code using a college computer science textbook, then learned how to edit videos and create animations.

Acutis, who died of acute leukemia on October 12, 2006, was put on the path to sainthood after Pope Francis approved the first miracle attributed to him: the healing of a 7-year-old Brazilian boy from a rare pancreatic disease after coming into contact with an Acutis relic, a piece of one of his T-shirts.

According to Vatican News, the second miracle recognized on Thursday is linked to a woman from Costa Rica, who in July 2022 made a pilgrimage to the tomb of Acutis in Assisi to pray for the healing of her daughter, who had suffered severe trauma cranial after a fall. of his bike.

The young woman began showing signs of recovery immediately after her mother’s call.

From a young age, Acutis demonstrated a strong religious devotion that surprised his non-practicing parents.

His mother, Antonia Salzano, recalled in an interview that from the age of 3 he asked to visit the churches they passed in Milan and that at the age of 7 he asked to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion, obtaining an exception to the usual age requirement.

His curiosity led Salzano to study theology to answer his questions, thereby renewing his own faith.

Acutis was buried in Assisi at his own request, having become an admirer of Saint Francis of Assisi for his dedication to the poor.

The Umbrian city was one of his favorite travel destinations. His body, dressed in a tracksuit and sneakers, was put on display for veneration at a city shrine, and his heart was displayed in a reliquary in the Basilica of St. Francis.