Last month, Pope Leo XIV canonized Carlo Acutis in a ceremony at the Vatican, officially declaring the boy the first Millennial Saint. His sanctification occurred five years after Pope Francis beatified the then-blessed Carlo Acutis, an action that ultimately propelled his journey to sainthood.
Born on May 3, 1991, St. Carlo Acutis lived a short but miraculous life similar to that of many Cubs. Acutis was raised in Milan, Italy, where, from a young age, he demonstrated a great interest in both Catholic theology and modern technology. Along with making time for his favorite hobbies and devout prayer, Acutis would go on to unveil his website (miracolieucaristici.org). He dedicated it solely to cataloging every reported Eucharistic miracle around the world. Acutis’ main goal with his new website was to ground miracles in scientific evidence in an attempt to draw people back to Mass. This approach, he believed, would connect younger generations with the Catholic faith. However, Acutis would never see his dream come to fruition, as he passed away from leukemia days after his website was unveiled.
The Church’s decision to canonize Carlo Acutis is a reminder that someone does not need to be a theologian or priest from the 15th century to become a saint. Even a Cub who pursues a life devoted to Christ and societal betterment can be sanctified. Brooks Greenspan ’28 stated, “It shows that the church isn’t just a bunch of old religious figures, but someone you could know,” referring back to Acutis. In fact, Acutis spent his free time playing Super Mario, practicing soccer with friends and spending weekends swimming at the beach, similar to many Cubs.
Theology teacher Randy Lopez ’96 expressed, “I believe that it was [Acutis’] relationship with God that transformed him. What if the Cubs were transformed by the love of God? If they had an encounter with Jesus? How much brighter would this world be?”
Saints are not relics of the past but rather real-world examples of how anyone can live a devout and faithful life. Despite times having changed since the days of St. Ignatius, St. Carlo Acutis serves as a powerful reminder that Cubs can balance living in the modern world with the duties of Christ.
