This Sunday, September 7, 2025, marks a momentous occasion in the life of our Church. In St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV will preside over his very first canonization Mass, elevating Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati to the altars of sainthood—a profound gift especially dear to the hearts of young Catholics .
The new pope’s choice of these two youthful and inspiring figures speaks volumes. Though separated by nearly a century, Acutis and Frassati share a remarkable devotion to Christ and a passionate commitment to living the Gospel in modern life .
Carlo Acutis, a teenager born in 1991 who passed away at age 15 from leukemia, combined typical youthful interests—video games, pets, soccer—with profound devotion. He used his computer skills to curate a website of Eucharistic miracles, earning him the endearing title, “God’s Influencer.” His canonization recognizes two miracles attributed to his intercession and marks him as the Church’s first millennial saint .
Pier Giorgio Frassati, born in 1901 and called the “Man of the Beatitudes”, lived a brief but brilliantly holy life, dying at 24 from polio. Known for his deep spirituality, charitable outreach through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and adventurous spirit as a mountaineer, Frassati embodied joy, service, and faith .
Though both were originally scheduled for canonization during jubilee events—Acutis in April and Frassati in August—the passing of Pope Francis in April delayed those plans. Pope Leo XIV has now brought these young blessings together in a single, meaningful celebration this Sunday .
In a time when so many feel disconnected from the faith, these new saints stand as luminous models: a tech-savvy teen who found holiness online, and a joyful mountaineer who chased heaven while helping the needy. May their stories inspire us—young and old—to walk more closely with Christ in our own, everyday lives.
