We don't choose who becomes a saint. The Church recognizes that someone is a saint. Insodoing, they are pointing to a life of holiness worth emulation.
The Church is doing this for Carlo Acutis. I have not seen any rhetoric on the manner you suggest where people point to him as an example of being worldly.
If you're looking at Catholic sources you might not. But if you go look at any of the 500+ media articles about his canonization, they're all precisely what the author describes.
All of the discussions I've seen about Carlo have included his Eucharistic devotion and how he was disciplined in his daily life. Even older and more traditional saints have cults more interested in their aesthetics than their virtue. I initially had the same concerns as you, but I disagree with the waiting period you recommend. Santo subito!
I think it’s okay to emphasis “he’s like one of the kids.” My wife, a Lutheran convert, never really talks about Saints the other night when our kids were needing some correcting gave a short synopsis of Carlos life and said “he was just a kid like you and he didn’t want to be sick…but he told people about Jesus. And she ended it with “Carlos Acutis, pray for us.”
I was touched during the whole moment. I could feel the burn from tears. I never considered up to that point how impactful is his life.
That’s really the point of St. Acutis’s cult, and why, as a young man myself, I relate more to St. Acutis than St. Frassati (although the latter I owe because many of the close friends and community I made come from a young men’s residence bearing his name). In many ways, I argue, St. Frassati’s is as ordinary and “worldly” as St. Acutis, and not just through the way he interacted with his peers. He was politically active and espoused social justice in his writings for different publications, during a politically fraught time in Italy’s history, something the author doesn’t talk about.
Sts. Acutis and Frassati reminded me of the principles of another saint who arguably is more or less considered “traditional” - St. Josemaria Escriva. He always espoused seeing the holiness in ordinary life, and that Christ is calling us to serve him through everyday actions, through discovering him in ordinary people. Even as we espouse greatness from the saints, I think we must not lose sight of this, for only God can make the ordinary extraordinary.
Well said, Pat. While more canonized saints is always a cause for celebration, the cult of/marketing around St. Carlo Acutis has had a distinct “how do you do, fellow kids” kind of energy to it. Hoping that as time goes on and the generational ties to web design/Pokémon/Spiderman/etc become a little less timely, there can be more of a focus on a young life of heroic virtue.
Beautifully said! Acutis is almost always described as "the first millennial saint," as if that especially matters. Yet a closer examination of his true sanctity shows that he was profoundly traditional in his faith, evoking such reactions as the campaign against his canonization discussed in this article - the kind of 'sign of contradiction' you rightly call for: https://zenit.org/2025/07/09/who-is-afraid-of-catholic-saints-a-strange-campaign-against-carlo-acutis
This is a really interesting take, one that I agree with to an extent. I will say that I have not heard more about Bl. Pier Giorgio than his love of the outdoors though, and when I have been told the story of Bl. Carlo, like Angela says, I have heard about his use of our modern technology to be counter-cultural in his promotion of Eucharistic devotion. I think there's a balance to be struck between honoring the saints for their saintly qualities and adoring qualities in them that we see in ourselves, to remind us that holiness is attainable (but we've got lots of work to do!). I wonder if there's a conversation to be had about how we strike this balance in ministry to middle school/high schoolers vs young adults vs adults...perhaps some groups do need the encouragement of a saint with Nikes playing video games and some need to be reminded that if we gain the world we lose our soul.
This comes across as petty and incredibly judgmental. Your litmus test on who should be a saint and who shouldn’t is just silly and arbitrary. This is sophomoric and immature. You’re acting like a sibling who cries because their brother is getting birthday presents at their own party. Grow up. This is made of the weakest stuff on the internet.
I think because he is relatable that so many teenagers and kids love him. He liked the things that most teenagers and kids nowadays like, Nintendo, Spiderman, was a ''computer nerd''. (which not going to lie, many teenagers are).
For myself, it is inspiring that a teenager who liked Nintendo and Spiderman became a saint, I can relate to him in a way and he inspires me to talk more about religion on Substack for example.
I think it is good that he is a canonized saint, he was definitely different from his peers. But he was still a kid.
My husband and I just were talking about this! It almost seems like Saint Carlo is used as excuse to indulge in our modern vices: “look! Carlo played video games! Carlo was normal.” His mother though, in an interview, said that Carlo limited his time on his PlayStation to 1 hour a week! 1 HOUR! Imagine limiting your phone usage to 1 hour a week. His self control is what made him a Saint, and this is where our devotion should lie, not in his “modernness” as you so expertly pointed out.
Carlo is relatable - that’s what I believe draws young people to him. He enjoyed Nintendo; JPII loved skiing. No one is saying that those ordinary things were central to their lives. I understand the sentiment of your article but disagree that we need to only emphasize what makes him different. Doing so makes him less relatable. I am in awe at Carlo’s short and impactful life. In how he was a regular fun-loving kid who fiercely loved the Lord. Who also wore jeans and a sweatshirt rather than a habit. We each have the potential to become saints in our ordinary lives by responding to grace and keeping Christ at the center (as you said - by being extraordinary in living heroic virtue) and that looks differently for everyone.
It's shocking to some to find out that saints didn't always just live in church or in waxwork, but lived in the same world we live in, and indeed, engaged with and were a part of the culture in their circle of influence.
Well, my 10 and 12 year olds are inspired by his deep devotion to the Eucharist, and feel like they can relate to him because they love all the things he did. My son is a gifted tech nerd and my daughter loves Pokémon. We are also traditional Catholics and the holy priest at their Catholic school gave his homily at the school mass on Wednesday about this generations examples of striving for holiness no matter what we do in life, and these young men exemplify that. I could literally see on the faces of the kids that they resonated with it. Saint Carlo’s website documenting Eucharistic miracles is great. He went to daily mass. He inspired his Hindu nanny to become Catholic by his piety and passion for Christ. His love for Christ brought his mom back to Jesus and His Church. He was a witness to God’s goodness and love to all he met. And even on his deathbed he had eyes fixed only on Christ and his heavenly home. We took our kids to see a great documentary about his life that was playing at our local movie theater. The Saints Alive podcast (loved in our home) did a great episode on St. Pierre Georgio Frassati. What an amazing young man! So I’m very happy that as I’m raising my children in this cultural moment we can add these two holy saints, modern day young men, to our many feast days celebrating the lives of saints throughout the ages. 🙏
I think it is important that his life looks like a "normal" life with extraordinary holiness. Our people need to see that saints are people like you and I who have decided to follow Jesus and lead lives of discipleship. But they can still enjoy video games and sports and other aspects of life as well. Many of the most important faith conversations I have happen in the context of seeing people in normal life.
This is probably one of the most confusing things about Catholicism in general. Carlo sounds like a great dude but saints are not just dead people with no normal human attributes that the church recognizes as “super Christians”
according to the reformers and more importantly the Bible itself, all believers are saints upon repentance and faith in Christ. We are all equal at the foot of the cross.
The Apostle Paul calls Christians saints — that is, holy ones, consecrated ones, set-apart ones, being-made-holy ones, saved, set apart for God, walking in the light — he calls all Christians saints over forty times in his personal letters.
He said to the Romans: “to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
He said to the Corinthians: “To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, [a]saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours”
He said to the Ephesians: “you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone”
He said to the Colossians: “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”
Multiple times in his letters he said “all the saints greet you” from currently living members of his church or “greet all the saints” to currently living members of the church he was writing to.
We don't choose who becomes a saint. The Church recognizes that someone is a saint. Insodoing, they are pointing to a life of holiness worth emulation.
The Church is doing this for Carlo Acutis. I have not seen any rhetoric on the manner you suggest where people point to him as an example of being worldly.
If you're looking at Catholic sources you might not. But if you go look at any of the 500+ media articles about his canonization, they're all precisely what the author describes.
Exactly "A saint called 'God's influencer' is being canonized" [barf]
All of the discussions I've seen about Carlo have included his Eucharistic devotion and how he was disciplined in his daily life. Even older and more traditional saints have cults more interested in their aesthetics than their virtue. I initially had the same concerns as you, but I disagree with the waiting period you recommend. Santo subito!
I think it’s okay to emphasis “he’s like one of the kids.” My wife, a Lutheran convert, never really talks about Saints the other night when our kids were needing some correcting gave a short synopsis of Carlos life and said “he was just a kid like you and he didn’t want to be sick…but he told people about Jesus. And she ended it with “Carlos Acutis, pray for us.”
I was touched during the whole moment. I could feel the burn from tears. I never considered up to that point how impactful is his life.
That’s really the point of St. Acutis’s cult, and why, as a young man myself, I relate more to St. Acutis than St. Frassati (although the latter I owe because many of the close friends and community I made come from a young men’s residence bearing his name). In many ways, I argue, St. Frassati’s is as ordinary and “worldly” as St. Acutis, and not just through the way he interacted with his peers. He was politically active and espoused social justice in his writings for different publications, during a politically fraught time in Italy’s history, something the author doesn’t talk about.
Sts. Acutis and Frassati reminded me of the principles of another saint who arguably is more or less considered “traditional” - St. Josemaria Escriva. He always espoused seeing the holiness in ordinary life, and that Christ is calling us to serve him through everyday actions, through discovering him in ordinary people. Even as we espouse greatness from the saints, I think we must not lose sight of this, for only God can make the ordinary extraordinary.
Well said, Pat. While more canonized saints is always a cause for celebration, the cult of/marketing around St. Carlo Acutis has had a distinct “how do you do, fellow kids” kind of energy to it. Hoping that as time goes on and the generational ties to web design/Pokémon/Spiderman/etc become a little less timely, there can be more of a focus on a young life of heroic virtue.
THIS.
Beautifully said! Acutis is almost always described as "the first millennial saint," as if that especially matters. Yet a closer examination of his true sanctity shows that he was profoundly traditional in his faith, evoking such reactions as the campaign against his canonization discussed in this article - the kind of 'sign of contradiction' you rightly call for: https://zenit.org/2025/07/09/who-is-afraid-of-catholic-saints-a-strange-campaign-against-carlo-acutis
Fabulous article.
thank you!
This is a really interesting take, one that I agree with to an extent. I will say that I have not heard more about Bl. Pier Giorgio than his love of the outdoors though, and when I have been told the story of Bl. Carlo, like Angela says, I have heard about his use of our modern technology to be counter-cultural in his promotion of Eucharistic devotion. I think there's a balance to be struck between honoring the saints for their saintly qualities and adoring qualities in them that we see in ourselves, to remind us that holiness is attainable (but we've got lots of work to do!). I wonder if there's a conversation to be had about how we strike this balance in ministry to middle school/high schoolers vs young adults vs adults...perhaps some groups do need the encouragement of a saint with Nikes playing video games and some need to be reminded that if we gain the world we lose our soul.
In Pier Giorgio’s case, he died because he worked with the poor in secret. He got sick from someone he was ministering to.
Amen @catholicpat — as always your writing is inspiring and edifying. Thank you for your work for the Gospel brother 💪🏻💪🏻
Thanks!
This comes across as petty and incredibly judgmental. Your litmus test on who should be a saint and who shouldn’t is just silly and arbitrary. This is sophomoric and immature. You’re acting like a sibling who cries because their brother is getting birthday presents at their own party. Grow up. This is made of the weakest stuff on the internet.
this article is not about who shouldn't be a saint. Did you read it?
Pat, I’d just ignore this comment and move on brother. Haters gonna hate. Keep writing bro—your essay was thoughtful and humble. Keep writing!!
I think because he is relatable that so many teenagers and kids love him. He liked the things that most teenagers and kids nowadays like, Nintendo, Spiderman, was a ''computer nerd''. (which not going to lie, many teenagers are).
For myself, it is inspiring that a teenager who liked Nintendo and Spiderman became a saint, I can relate to him in a way and he inspires me to talk more about religion on Substack for example.
I think it is good that he is a canonized saint, he was definitely different from his peers. But he was still a kid.
My husband and I just were talking about this! It almost seems like Saint Carlo is used as excuse to indulge in our modern vices: “look! Carlo played video games! Carlo was normal.” His mother though, in an interview, said that Carlo limited his time on his PlayStation to 1 hour a week! 1 HOUR! Imagine limiting your phone usage to 1 hour a week. His self control is what made him a Saint, and this is where our devotion should lie, not in his “modernness” as you so expertly pointed out.
Carlo is relatable - that’s what I believe draws young people to him. He enjoyed Nintendo; JPII loved skiing. No one is saying that those ordinary things were central to their lives. I understand the sentiment of your article but disagree that we need to only emphasize what makes him different. Doing so makes him less relatable. I am in awe at Carlo’s short and impactful life. In how he was a regular fun-loving kid who fiercely loved the Lord. Who also wore jeans and a sweatshirt rather than a habit. We each have the potential to become saints in our ordinary lives by responding to grace and keeping Christ at the center (as you said - by being extraordinary in living heroic virtue) and that looks differently for everyone.
It's shocking to some to find out that saints didn't always just live in church or in waxwork, but lived in the same world we live in, and indeed, engaged with and were a part of the culture in their circle of influence.
He will bring many teens to the faith!
Well, my 10 and 12 year olds are inspired by his deep devotion to the Eucharist, and feel like they can relate to him because they love all the things he did. My son is a gifted tech nerd and my daughter loves Pokémon. We are also traditional Catholics and the holy priest at their Catholic school gave his homily at the school mass on Wednesday about this generations examples of striving for holiness no matter what we do in life, and these young men exemplify that. I could literally see on the faces of the kids that they resonated with it. Saint Carlo’s website documenting Eucharistic miracles is great. He went to daily mass. He inspired his Hindu nanny to become Catholic by his piety and passion for Christ. His love for Christ brought his mom back to Jesus and His Church. He was a witness to God’s goodness and love to all he met. And even on his deathbed he had eyes fixed only on Christ and his heavenly home. We took our kids to see a great documentary about his life that was playing at our local movie theater. The Saints Alive podcast (loved in our home) did a great episode on St. Pierre Georgio Frassati. What an amazing young man! So I’m very happy that as I’m raising my children in this cultural moment we can add these two holy saints, modern day young men, to our many feast days celebrating the lives of saints throughout the ages. 🙏
I think it is important that his life looks like a "normal" life with extraordinary holiness. Our people need to see that saints are people like you and I who have decided to follow Jesus and lead lives of discipleship. But they can still enjoy video games and sports and other aspects of life as well. Many of the most important faith conversations I have happen in the context of seeing people in normal life.
Everyone loves St. Francis of Assisi because he loved animals, that’s what has made him popular. Is this any different?
It’s not different. That’s also a reductive way to describe St. Francis and not what made him popular
This is probably one of the most confusing things about Catholicism in general. Carlo sounds like a great dude but saints are not just dead people with no normal human attributes that the church recognizes as “super Christians”
according to the reformers and more importantly the Bible itself, all believers are saints upon repentance and faith in Christ. We are all equal at the foot of the cross.
The Apostle Paul calls Christians saints — that is, holy ones, consecrated ones, set-apart ones, being-made-holy ones, saved, set apart for God, walking in the light — he calls all Christians saints over forty times in his personal letters.
He said to the Romans: “to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
He said to the Corinthians: “To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, [a]saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours”
He said to the Ephesians: “you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone”
He said to the Colossians: “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”
Multiple times in his letters he said “all the saints greet you” from currently living members of his church or “greet all the saints” to currently living members of the church he was writing to.