LIVE | Canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati | Pope Leo XIV | September 7, 2025

On September 7, 2025, the Catholic Church canonized Saint Carlo Acutis (1991–2006) and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925), raising them to the altars as saints. Though born in different centuries, their lives share a common witness: youthful holiness, deep love for the Eucharist, devotion to Our Lady, and an unshakable desire to bring others to Christ.

Both men, one a 15-year-old “millennial saint of the digital age,” the other a 24-year-old “Man of the Eight Beatitudes”, show that sanctity is not distant or unreachable, but possible in the ordinary lives of young people. Their canonization is a powerful sign for the Church today, reminding us that holiness belongs not only to priests and religious, but also to the laity, to the young, and to all who dare to live the Gospel radically.

Saint Carlo Acutis (1991–2006) – Patron of the Digital Age

Carlo Acutis, born in London in 1991 and raised in Milan, was an ordinary teenager with extraordinary faith. From the age of seven, after his First Communion, he attended daily Mass, prayed the Rosary, and adored the Eucharist with a devotion far beyond his years.

Carlo loved soccer, Super Mario, Pokémon, and programming, but above all he loved Jesus. He used his computer skills to catalog Eucharistic miracles, creating an exhibit that continues to travel the world. Known for his compassion, he defended bullied classmates, welcomed children from broken homes, and gave generously to the poor.

At age 15, Carlo was diagnosed with leukemia. He embraced his suffering with peace, offering it for the Pope and the Church. He died on October 12, 2006, and was buried in Assisi, the land of St. Francis whom he deeply loved. In 2020, Pope Francis beatified him after a miraculous healing was attributed to his intercession.

Carlo’s incorrupt body lies in Assisi, dressed in jeans and sneakers, a reminder that holiness is possible in ordinary life. He is now recognized as the patron of youth, computer programmers, and the digital world.

Quotes of Saint Carlo Acutis

  • “What does it matter if you can win a thousand battles if you cannot win against your own corrupt passions? The real battle is with ourselves.”
  • “All people are born as originals but many die as photocopies.”
  • “Our soul is like a hot air balloon. If by chance there is a mortal sin, the soul falls to the ground. Confession is like the fire underneath the balloon, enabling the soul to rise again. It is important to go to confession often.”
  • “The more Eucharist we receive, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on earth we will have a foretaste of heaven.”
  • “Our goal must be the infinite and not the finite. The Infinite is our homeland. We are always expected in Heaven.”
  • “I am happy to die because I lived my life without wasting even a minute of it on anything unpleasing to God.”
  • “Continuously ask your guardian angel for help. Your guardian angel has to become your best friend.”
  • “The only thing we have to ask God for, in prayer, is the desire to be holy.”

Saint Carlo Acutis, pray for us 🙏

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925) – Man of the Eight Beatitudes

Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in 1901 into a wealthy family in Turin, Italy. Handsome, athletic, and full of life, he loved mountain climbing, literature, theater, and practical jokes. Yet behind his vibrant personality was a profound faith. Despite his parents’ indifference to religion, he pursued daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and the Rosary.

From his teenage years, Pier Giorgio dedicated himself to serving the poor through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, often giving away his possessions and even his bus fare to help others. He was deeply involved in Catholic Action, boldly opposing fascism and communism while remaining rooted in prayer. In 1922, he became a Lay Dominican, uniting contemplation with action.

An avid mountaineer, he often said climbing reflected the Christian life—a steady ascent “to the heights.” After his final climb, he wrote his famous motto: “Verso l’Alto” (“To the Heights”). Soon after, he contracted polio, likely from serving the sick in Turin’s slums. On his deathbed at 24, he whispered the names of those who still needed help. At his funeral, thousands of poor people whom he had served came to honor him, shocking his wealthy family.

Beatified in 1990 by Pope St. John Paul II, Pier Giorgio was called the “Man of the Eight Beatitudes” and praised as a model for young people and lay Catholics. His incorrupt body rests in Turin, and he is honored as the patron of students, young Catholics, mountaineers, and World Youth Day.

Quotes & Legacy of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati

  • “Verso l’Alto — To the Heights!”
  • Called by St. John Paul II the “Man of the Eight Beatitudes.”
  • Remembered as a patron of students, young Catholics, mountaineers, youth groups, Dominican tertiaries, and World Youth Day.

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us 🙏

Prayer for the Canonization of Saint Carlo Acutis & Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati

Lord God, You filled Saint Carlo Acutis and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati with a burning love for You in the Eucharist, deep devotion to Our Lady, and a passion for serving the poor. Through their example, teach us to live faithfully in our own time, to use our gifts for Your glory, to stand for truth and justice, and to seek always the heights of holiness.

May their canonization inspire the young and the old alike to draw closer to Christ, who is our way, our truth, and our life.

Saint Carlo Acutis and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati — pray for us! 🙏

The Canonization of Saint Carlo Acutis & Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/canonization-of-carlo-acutis-pier-giorgio-frassati/

SAINT CARLO ACUTIS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saint-carlo-acutis/

SAINT PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saint-pier-giorgio-frassati/

Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/