In a move that’s capturing the hearts of Catholics around the world, the Vatican has just announced that two beloved young figures—Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati—will be officially canonized together on September 7.
These two names have long inspired young believers with their bold witness to faith in very different, yet deeply personal ways.
A Historic Day Set by Pope Leo XIV
The canonization date was confirmed during Pope Leo XIV’s first ordinary public consistory with cardinals at the Apostolic Palace on June 13.
It’s especially significant for modern believers—Carlo Acutis, a tech-savvy teen who passed away in 2006, will become the first millennial saint in Catholic Church history.
Originally, Acutis was set to be canonized on April 27 during the Vatican’s Jubilee of Teenagers.
But after Pope Francis passed away on April 21, the Vatican understandably delayed the ceremony. Even so, the occasion remained deeply moving.
Thousands of young pilgrims still came to Rome, attending both Pope Francis’ funeral and a massive jubilee Mass that drew around 200,000 people.
As for Frassati, his canonization was initially planned for August 3 during the Jubilee of Youth but was also rescheduled—uniting the two holy young men for one shared ceremony.
Carlo Acutis: Tech Genius with a Heart for Jesus
Born in London in 1991 and raised in Milan, Carlo Acutis was the kind of kid who lived and breathed his Catholic faith.
He attended daily Mass, and by the time he made his First Communion at age 7, he’d already set a clear intention for his life: “To always be united to Jesus.”
He called the Eucharist his “highway to heaven”, and he wasn’t kidding.
Carlo became known not just for his own deep devotion to Christ, but also for using his computer skills to create a traveling exhibit that documented Eucharistic miracles.
That exhibit has now reached thousands of churches on five continents.
Carlo’s impact didn’t stop there. His example led his parents to return to the faith and even inspired his Hindu au pair to convert to Catholicism.
A Miracle and a Legacy
In May 2024, the Vatican officially recognized a second miracle attributed to Carlo’s intercession: the miraculous recovery of Valeria Valverde, a 21-year-old Costa Rican student who suffered a severe brain injury in a biking accident in 2022.
Her mother prayed at Carlo’s tomb in Assisi, and Valeria made a full recovery.
Carlo died of leukemia at just 15 years old, but his short life has since inspired books, documentaries, and digital ministries.
His joyful spirit, love for animals, video games, and tech make him relatable to countless young Catholics today.
Pier Giorgio Frassati: Climbing to Holiness
Pier Giorgio Frassati, on the other hand, lived in a very different era—he died in 1925 at the age of 24. But his witness to holiness is just as powerful.
A native of Turin, Italy, Frassati was an energetic mountain climber, devoted Catholic, and fierce advocate for the poor.
At 17, he joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society, pouring his time and energy into serving the homeless, sick, and veterans.
He even contracted polio, which led to his death, most likely through his work with the ill.
Pier Giorgio is perhaps best remembered for a photo from his final climb, where he scribbled the phrase “Verso L’Alto” (“To the heights”)—a motto that’s now embraced by young Catholics aiming for spiritual greatness.
A Saint for the People
Frassati wasn’t just about grand gestures. He was also deeply rooted in daily devotion, receiving Communion every day, and staying involved in groups like Catholic Action and the Apostleship of Prayer.
Pope John Paul II, who beatified him in 1990, called him a “man of the beatitudes” and someone who lived completely for God and neighbor.
A Shared Canonization at St. Peter’s
The canonization Mass for Acutis and Frassati will take place in St. Peter’s Square on September 7, and it promises to be a powerful moment for Catholics worldwide.
These two young men lived decades apart but are united by their passionate love for Jesus and desire to lead others toward holiness.
More Saints to Come This October
At the same consistory, cardinals also approved the canonizations of seven other blesseds, including Bartolo Longo, José Gregorio Hernández, Peter To Rot, Vincenza Maria Poloni, Ignazio Choukrallah Maloyan, María del Monte Carmelo Rendiles Martínez, and Maria Troncatti.
Their joint canonization ceremony will be held on October 19.
Saints for a New Generation
Together, Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati show that sainthood isn’t just for the cloistered or the ancient.
It’s for the energetic, the creative, the digitally curious, and the socially engaged.
Whether through a laptop or a mountain trail, both young men found God in their everyday lives—and now, they’re being lifted to the altars of the Church to inspire a new generation to do the same.
Let me know if you’d like a shorter version, a headline package, or a visual infographic summary of their lives!