A young Italian who found joy in video games and making humorous pet videos was declared the Roman Catholic Church’s first millennial saint on Sunday.

Carlo Acutis, who passed away at the age of 15 in 2006 due to leukemia, became known for utilizing his computer talents to promote the Catholic faith. He created a website that compiled accounts of miracles throughout the world.

Called “God’s influencer,” Acutis is seen as an early figure in the Church’s efforts to evangelize through technology and social media.

Often shown in casual clothes like jeans, a T-shirt, and sneakers, Acutis differs from traditional depictions of saints, making him an accessible figure for youth worldwide.

His canonization occurred alongside that of Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young man who died in 1925 at 24 years old. This was the first saint-canonizing ceremony led by Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, and drew a large youth crowd in St. Peter’s Square.

Masses of people filled Vatican City, many waving banners with Acutis’ image. Cheers broke out as Pope Leo officially recognized the teenager as a saint.

This recognition comes at a moment when the Vatican, still largely led by senior male clergy over 60, is searching for meaningful ways to connect with younger believers. The Church has faced profound challenges, particularly from scandals involving abuse, eroding its credibility.

Nonetheless, recent studies and personal stories suggest growing interest in Catholicism among younger generations in places like the U.S. and Europe, despite broader trends of religious disaffiliation.

Antonia Salzano, Acutis' mother, believes her son's message and life story strike a chord with youth navigating the digital world.

"Carlo offers a hopeful message," said Salzano in Assisi. "He wanted the internet to be used for good. That’s why the Pope called him God’s influencer."

She recalled that her son was aware of the downsides of digital life and limited his video game playing to just one hour per week.

"Carlo once said, ‘We’re all born as originals, but many die as copies,’" she added in an interview held at a center dedicated to her son in Assisi.

"We each have a unique purpose. God has given each person a mission. Carlo believed that embracing this mission is what gives our lives meaning." She hopes his example shows that personal holiness is attainable by anyone.

Born in London to a wealthy family, Carlo spent most of his upbringing in Milan. His father, Andrea Acutis, worked in finance before becoming head of an Italian insurance company. Carlo’s childhood, his mother says, was typical—he enjoyed playing sports and creating comedic short films with his pets, often voicing their characters himself.

Though he was raised in a family that wasn’t especially religious, Carlo displayed strong faith from an early age. He gave money to those on the streets, stood up for bullied classmates, and comforted friends going through tough times like divorce at home.

"In a way, my son’s faith brought me closer to God," said Salzano, noting that their Polish nanny, Beata Sperczynska, was a spiritual influence on Carlo.

His resting place in Assisi—where he is dressed in everyday clothes including sneakers—can be viewed digitally via live webcam, frequently drawing young visitors.

According to Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi, the church where Carlo is interred has witnessed nearly a million visitors in a single year, with interest continually growing. In the U.S., a shrine honoring him has been established in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

Carlo’s journey to sainthood progressed unusually quickly. The canonization process typically takes many years and requires the confirmation of two miracles associated with the individual. Medical and theological experts must authenticate these events.

He was beatified in 2020 after the Vatican recognized the healing of a Brazilian child unable to eat normally as a miracle following prayers to Carlo. The second validated miracle involved a Costa Rican girl who recovered from serious brain injury after her mother prayed at Carlo’s tomb.

Now that he is officially a saint, churches and institutions globally can be named after him.

However, not all responses to his canonization have been positive. Some critics believe his story is being used to advance traditional or even outdated religious ideas.

Carlo’s website compiled numerous claims of Eucharistic miracles—the belief that bread and wine transform into Christ’s body and blood during the Mass. Some stories involved the host physically bleeding or showing signs of live tissue.

"A young person who loves the Eucharist is inspiring," said Andrea Grillo, a professor at a Roman theological college. "But focusing on collecting miracle stories can lead in the wrong direction. It’s something that needs guidance."

Grillo also warned the Church to exercise care in presenting such devotions, saying that seeking miraculous signs isn't necessarily virtuous. He emphasized the deeper meaning of the Eucharist over visible phenomena.

Twelve years after Carlo’s passing, his body was exhumed, dressed in familiar attire, and placed within a wax depiction of his image inside a glass coffin in Assisi’s Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

A piece of his heart, specifically part of the pericardium, was taken as a relic and displayed in different churches across the globe. One of those appearances, during a youth event in Rome, drew a great number of attendees.

"I feel connected to Carlo because I was born the year he died," said 19-year-old Gary Friesen from Canada at one such display. "He was passionate about using the internet for evangelization, and I try to do the same on social media."

Another visitor, 21-year-old Olivia Santarelli from Vancouver, said Carlo’s appeal lies in his relatability. "He’s just like us," she explained. "He liked sports and the internet—but foremost in his life was his devotion to Jesus."