Modern Saints for Modern Times: The Canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati

In a solemn ceremony that resonated with both tradition and contemporary significance, the Catholic Church recently elevated two young men to sainthood, officially recognizing Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati among its pantheon of saints. The canonization of these two individuals—both of whom died at remarkably young ages—represents a deliberate effort by the Church to present modern, relatable role models to today’s Catholic youth. Their stories, separated by nearly a century yet bound by common threads of faith and service, offer compelling narratives of how holiness can manifest in ordinary lives, even in the digital age.

Young Lives, Extraordinary Legacies: The Stories Behind the Newest Saints

Carlo Acutis, often referred to as “the patron saint of the internet,” passed away in 2006 at just 15 years old from leukemia. Born in London to Italian parents and raised in Milan, Acutis defied contemporary stereotypes about religious youth. A computer programming prodigy, he used his technological skills to document Eucharistic miracles worldwide, creating an exhibition that has since traveled to dozens of countries. Despite his affluent background, Acutis was known for his profound simplicity, giving away his allowance to the homeless and using his computer skills to build websites for local charities and his parish. “To be always united with Jesus, this is my life program,” he once said, encapsulating a spirituality that was both deeply traditional and remarkably accessible to his peers.

Pier Giorgio Frassati, meanwhile, died in 1925 at age 24 from polio contracted while serving the impoverished. Born into a prominent Italian family—his father founded the newspaper La Stampa and later served as an ambassador—Frassati rejected the comfortable path available to him. An avid mountaineer who loved gathering friends for challenging hikes in the Italian Alps, he became known for his joyful disposition and commitment to social justice through Catholic action movements. When he died, his family was stunned to find thousands of poor residents of Turin lining the streets for his funeral procession—people they never knew their son had helped. His famous saying, “To the heights,” originally a climbing motto, became a spiritual metaphor for his approach to life that continues to inspire Catholic youth organizations worldwide.

The Church’s Strategic Vision: Saints for a New Generation

The timing of these canonizations reveals a strategic dimension to the Church’s saint-making process. In an era of declining religious participation among younger generations in many parts of the world, Vatican observers note that these two young saints offer compelling counternarratives to secular culture. “The Church is deliberately highlighting models of sanctity that speak to contemporary challenges,” explains Dr. Elisabetta Romano, professor of religious sociology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. “In Acutis, young Catholics see someone who navigated digital culture without being consumed by it. In Frassati, they find a young person who balanced social engagement, outdoor adventure, and spiritual commitment in a seamless way.”

This perspective is reinforced by the Vatican’s communication strategy surrounding the canonizations. Unlike saints of previous generations, whose relevance sometimes required extensive explanation to modern audiences, both Acutis and Frassati come with ready-made connections to contemporary life. Acutis’s story speaks directly to questions about technology and faith integration; his oft-quoted insight that “everyone is born an original, but many die as photocopies” resonates deeply in an age of social media conformity. Similarly, Frassati’s commitment to addressing socioeconomic inequality through direct action rather than mere rhetoric offers a template for faith-based activism that transcends political divides. “These are saints whose lives naturally invite questions relevant to today’s young people,” noted Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life. “They demonstrate that holiness isn’t antiquated—it’s the ultimate counter-cultural stance.”

Miracles and Modern Medicine: The Verification Process

The path to sainthood for both Acutis and Frassati involved the rigorous investigative process for which the Catholic Church is known. Each canonization required verified miracles attributed to their intercession—divine interventions that medical science could not explain. In Acutis’s case, the Vatican recognized the healing of a Brazilian boy with a rare pancreatic condition. After the child touched a relic of Acutis—a piece of his t-shirt—he experienced complete healing that multiple medical specialists confirmed defied scientific explanation. “The medical documentation was exhaustive,” explained Monsignor Robert Sarno of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. “We consulted specialists from five countries who unanimously agreed the recovery had no natural explanation.”

Frassati’s canonization similarly followed the verification of healing cases that challenged medical understanding. One involved a young Italian mountaineer who suffered catastrophic injuries in a climbing accident—injuries medical professionals insisted would leave him permanently disabled if he survived at all. Following prayers to Frassati by the climber’s family and friends, he experienced a recovery that his medical team documented as unprecedented. These miracle investigations represent the intersection of faith and science in the canonization process, with the Church maintaining that such thorough investigation safeguards against unwarranted attributions of divine intervention. “The burden of proof is intentionally set very high,” notes Dr. Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of Vatican Media. “The Church would rather miss recognizing a legitimate saint than canonize someone inappropriately.”

Digital Devotion and Mountain Metaphors: How Young Catholics Are Responding

The response among young Catholics to these canonizations has been notably enthusiastic, with devotion to both saints manifesting in distinctly contemporary ways. Acutis, whose body lies in a glass case in Assisi where visitors can see him dressed in jeans and Nike sneakers, has inspired online prayer groups, coding camps focused on developing apps for spiritual growth, and social media challenges encouraging users to document acts of charity. The hashtag #CyberSaint regularly trends when Acutis is discussed in Catholic contexts, and several Catholic schools have established computer labs named in his honor, where students are encouraged to use technology for community benefit.

Frassati’s legacy, meanwhile, has inspired a resurgence in outdoor ministry programs, with “Frassati Hiking Clubs” appearing in parishes across multiple continents. These groups explicitly connect physical challenges with spiritual growth, often incorporating prayer and discussion into mountain expeditions. Campus ministry programs have similarly embraced Frassati’s model of integrating service with fellowship, organizing events where students alternate between volunteer work and social activities. “What’s striking is how organic this devotion feels,” observes Sister Helena Burns, who works in young adult ministry. “These aren’t top-down initiatives but grassroots responses to saints who naturally speak to young people’s desire for authenticity. Young Catholics are drawn to Acutis and Frassati because they see in them a spirituality that’s deeply committed but not artificially separated from ordinary life.”

Beyond Catholicism: The Universal Appeal of Young Saints

Perhaps most remarkably, the influence of these young saints extends beyond strictly Catholic circles. Interfaith dialogue groups have noted the potential of these saints’ stories to build bridges between religious traditions. Acutis’s technological focus has resonated with young people across religious boundaries who struggle with questions about digital ethics and authentic identity online. Similarly, Frassati’s commitment to social justice has made him a point of reference in ecumenical social action initiatives, where his example is cited alongside figures from other faith traditions who dedicated themselves to addressing poverty and inequality.

Cultural commentators have also noted how these canonizations reflect broader societal questions about purpose and meaning for young people. “What we’re seeing is the emergence of counter-narratives to prevailing cultural assumptions about success and fulfillment,” explains Dr. Sophia Martinez, who studies religion and youth culture at Georgetown University. “In a culture that often measures worth through achievement, consumption, or social media metrics, these saints present alternative visions of a life well-lived that resonate beyond religious boundaries.” This broader cultural impact suggests that the significance of these canonizations may ultimately extend far beyond Catholic circles, offering compelling life models in a time of widespread searching for meaning and purpose among young people. As Cardinal Robert Sarah observed at the canonization ceremony, “These saints remind us that a short life lived with purpose and love leaves a longer legacy than many decades spent in pursuit of things that ultimately do not satisfy the human heart.”