On September 7, 2025, the Catholic Church welcomed two new saints into its communion of holy men and women: Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati and Saint Carlo Acutis. Canonized together in a historic ceremony in St. Peter’s Square, presided over by Pope Leo XIV, these two young Italians—one from the early 20th century and the other the first millennial saint—embody a vibrant call to holiness that resonates with today’s youth. Their lives, marked by faith, service, and joy, serve as powerful examples of how ordinary people can live extraordinary lives for Christ. This post explores their biographies, the miracles attributed to their intercession, their unique charisms and influence, and the significance of their canonization.
Biography of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
Early Life and Background
Pier Giorgio Frassati was born on April 6, 1901, in Turin, Italy, into a prominent and wealthy family. His father, Alfredo Frassati, was the founder and editor of La Stampa, a leading Italian newspaper, and his mother, Adelaide Ametis, was a painter. Despite his privileged upbringing, Pier Giorgio was drawn to a life of simplicity and service from a young age. His family was not particularly religious, but Pier Giorgio’s faith was ignited through his involvement in Catholic organizations, including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Catholic Action, and the Dominican Third Order, where he took the name Girolamo.
As a young man, Pier Giorgio was known for his infectious joy, love for adventure, and deep commitment to the poor. He was an avid mountaineer, often climbing the peaks of the Italian Alps with friends, where he found spiritual inspiration in nature. His motto, “Verso l’Alto” (“To the Heights”), reflected his aspiration to strive for holiness and eternal life with Christ. Despite his family’s wealth, he often gave away his own possessions, money, and even his train fare to help those in need, sometimes walking home after giving away his bus money.
Faith and Service
Pier Giorgio’s faith was not a private matter but a dynamic force that shaped his actions. He was deeply involved in Catholic social movements, advocating for the poor and marginalized during a time of political turmoil in Italy, marked by the rise of Fascism and Communism. As a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, he visited the slums of Turin, bringing food, clothing, and supplies to the sick and impoverished. His friends affectionately nicknamed him “Frassati Impresa Trasporti” (Frassati Transport Company) due to his tireless efforts to deliver aid, often pushing carts filled with supplies through the streets.
Pier Giorgio was also a Third Order Dominican, embracing a lay spirituality that combined prayer, study, and action. He participated in Eucharistic adoration, daily Mass, and the Rosary, grounding his activism in a deep relationship with Christ. His commitment to social justice led him to join demonstrations defending the Catholic faith against anti-clerical movements, and he was known for his courage in standing up for his beliefs.
Death and Legacy
Tragically, Pier Giorgio’s life was cut short at the age of 24. In July 1925, he contracted polio, likely from his service to the sick in Turin’s slums. His illness progressed rapidly, and he died on July 4, 1925, after only a few days. His death revealed the extent of his charity, as crowds of poor people, many of whom he had helped anonymously, attended his funeral, much to the surprise of his family. Pier Giorgio was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1990, who called him the “Man of the Beatitudes” for his embodiment of the Gospel’s call to love and serve.
Biography of Saint Carlo Acutis
Early Life and Background
Carlo Acutis was born on May 3, 1991, in London, England, to Italian parents, Andrea Acutis and Antonia Salzano, who were working in the UK at the time. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Milan, Italy, where Carlo grew up in a well-to-do environment. His father’s family was involved in the Italian insurance industry, and his mother ran a publishing company. Despite his privileged background, Carlo’s life was marked by simplicity, faith, and a passion for using technology to spread the Gospel.
From a young age, Carlo displayed an extraordinary devotion to the Eucharist. He began attending daily Mass at age seven, often encouraging his family to join him. His mother, who was not particularly religious before Carlo’s influence, credits him with bringing her closer to the faith. Carlo’s love for the Eucharist led him to create a website cataloging Eucharistic miracles worldwide, a project he began at age 11 and completed over two and a half years. This digital exhibit, premiered in 2005 during the Year of the Eucharist, has since been displayed in thousands of parishes across five continents.
Faith and Modern Witness
Carlo was a typical teenager in many ways, enjoying video games, soccer, and time with friends and pets. Yet, he integrated his faith seamlessly into his daily life. He volunteered at a church soup kitchen, tutored children, and served as a catechist, sharing his love for Christ with others. His cheerful disposition and openness about his faith earned him the nickname “God’s Influencer.” Carlo famously said, “People who place themselves before the sun get a tan; people who place themselves before the Eucharist become saints,” encapsulating his belief that holiness is accessible through devotion to the Eucharist.
Carlo’s use of technology set him apart as a modern saint. Self-taught in computer coding, he used his skills to evangelize, creating websites to promote Catholic teachings. His approachable spirituality inspired many, including his Hindu au pair, who converted to Catholicism through Carlo’s influence. Even in his final days, Carlo’s faith shone brightly. Diagnosed with leukemia in 2006, he offered his sufferings for the Pope and the Church, expressing a desire to go “straight to heaven.” He died on October 12, 2006, at the age of 15.
Path to Sainthood
Carlo’s cause for sainthood progressed rapidly due to his widespread popularity among young Catholics. The diocesan investigation opened in 2013, and he was declared Venerable in 2018 by Pope Francis. His beatification in 2020 in Assisi, where his tomb is located, marked him as the first millennial to be beatified, further cementing his role as a model for youth in the digital age.
Miracles Attributed to Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
The canonization process in the Catholic Church typically requires two verified miracles attributed to the intercession of the candidate. For Pier Giorgio Frassati, two miracles have been formally recognized:
1. First Miracle (Pre-Beatification, 1980s)
The first miracle attributed to Pier Giorgio’s intercession involved the healing of a person in the United States, recognized by the Vatican prior to his beatification in 1990. While specific details of this miracle are less widely publicized, it was deemed sufficient by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints to confirm Pier Giorgio’s heroic virtue and intercessory power.
2. Second Miracle (2017, Recognized 2024)
The second miracle, which paved the way for his canonization, involved Father Juan Gutierrez, a seminarian from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In 2017, Gutierrez tore his Achilles tendon while playing basketball, facing a long and painful recovery. Inspired to pray a novena to Pier Giorgio, Gutierrez experienced an unusual sensation of heat around his injured foot during prayer in the seminary chapel. Days later, he found he could walk normally without a brace. An orthopedic surgeon, after reviewing an MRI and conducting tests, confirmed the healing was inexplicable by medical standards, stating, “You must have someone in heaven who likes you.” This miracle was formally recognized by Pope Francis on November 25, 2024, clearing the path for Frassati’s canonization.[](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/264747/the-miracle-that-makes-possible-pier-giorgio-frassati-s-canonization)
Miracles Attributed to Saint Carlo Acutis
Carlo Acutis’s canonization was also supported by two verified miracles:
1. First Miracle (2013, Recognized 2020)
The first miracle involved the healing of a 4-year-old Brazilian boy, Matheus Vianna, who suffered from a congenital pancreatic condition (annular pancreas) that made eating solid food difficult. In 2013, on Carlo’s death anniversary (October 12), Matheus’s mother, Luciana Vianna, prayed a novena to Carlo and brought her son to Mass, where he kissed a relic of Carlo’s clothing. Matheus expressed a desire not to “throw up as much” and, immediately after the Mass, requested solid food. He was able to eat normally thereafter, and medical examinations confirmed the complete resolution of his condition. This miracle was authenticated by Pope Francis in 2020, leading to Carlo’s beatification.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Acutis)
2. Second Miracle (2022, Recognized 2024)
The second miracle involved Valeria Valverde, a 21-year-old woman from Costa Rica, who suffered severe head trauma from a bicycle accident in 2022. Doctors gave little hope for her survival. Her mother made a pilgrimage to Carlo’s tomb in Assisi, leaving a note and praying for his intercession. On the same day, Valeria began breathing spontaneously. The next day, she started moving and regaining speech. Within ten days, a CAT scan showed her brain hemorrhage had disappeared, a recovery deemed medically inexplicable. The Vatican recognized this miracle on May 23, 2024, paving the way for Carlo’s canonization.[](https://catholiconline.news/faith/a-new-generation-of-saints-carlo-acutis-and-pier-giorgio-frassati-to-be-canonized-sept-7/)
Influence and Charism of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
Charism
Pier Giorgio Frassati’s charism is one of lay spirituality and joyful service. Known as the “Man of the Beatitudes,” he lived the Gospel with enthusiasm, combining prayer, community involvement, and service to the poor. His love for the Eucharist and the poor was expressed through action, whether delivering supplies in Turin’s slums or advocating for social justice. His passion for mountaineering symbolized his spiritual ascent toward God, encapsulated in his motto “Verso l’Alto”. Pier Giorgio’s life demonstrates that holiness is not reserved for clergy or religious but is attainable in everyday life through faith and charity.
Influence
Pier Giorgio’s influence is profound, particularly among young Catholics and those involved in World Youth Day (WYD), where he is a patron. His relics have traveled to WYD events in Sydney (2008) and Krakow (2016), inspiring pilgrims worldwide. His example of combining faith with action has made him a model for Catholic youth groups, social justice advocates, and athletes, given his love for outdoor activities. Schools, churches, and organizations worldwide bear his name, and his phrase “Verso l’Alto” has become a rallying cry for those striving for holiness. At Benedictine College in Kansas, for instance, the Frassati student organization adopts his motto to encourage faith-filled, adventurous living.[](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/world/europe/carlo-acutis-frassati-pope-leo-saints.html)
Influence and Charism of Saint Carlo Acutis
Charism
Carlo Acutis’s charism is one of Eucharistic devotion and digital evangelization. His deep love for the Eucharist, which he called the “highway to heaven,” shaped his life and mission. By using his technological skills to create a website on Eucharistic miracles, Carlo showed how modern tools can serve the Gospel. His approachable, joyful spirituality—rooted in daily Mass, prayer, and service—makes holiness relatable to young people. Carlo’s saying, “Not I, but God,” reflects his humility and focus on Christ, while his integration of faith with modern interests like gaming and coding makes him a unique model for the digital age.
Influence
Carlo’s influence is global, particularly among youth and those in the digital sphere. Known as “God’s Influencer” and the “Patron Saint of the Internet,” he has inspired a Eucharistic revival among young Catholics. His Eucharistic miracles exhibit has reached over 10,000 locations worldwide, translated into 18 languages, and was displayed at significant events like the canonization of Francisco and Jacinta Marto in Fatima. Schools, youth programs, and digital evangelization projects bear his name, and his story has led to conversions, including within his own family. His appeal lies in his ordinariness—a teenager who loved video games yet lived heroically for Christ—making him a powerful witness for millennials and Gen Z.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Acutis)
The Canonization on September 7, 2025
Background and Context
The canonization of Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis was a landmark event, marking the first canonizations of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate, which began on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. Initially, Carlo’s canonization was scheduled for April 27, 2025, during the Jubilee of Teenagers, and Pier Giorgio’s for August 3, 2025, during the Jubilee of Youth. However, Pope Francis’s death prompted a rescheduling, and on June 13, 2025, Pope Leo XIV announced that both would be canonized together on September 7, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square, during the Vatican’s Jubilee Year of Hope.[](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-06/carlo-acutis-and-pier-giorgio-frassati-to-be-canonized-together.html)[](https://ascensionpress.com/blogs/articles/pope-leo-xiv-announces-blessed-carlo-acutis-and-blessed-pier-giorgio-frassati-canonization-date)
The Ceremony
On a radiant late summer morning, an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 pilgrims filled St. Peter’s Square for the canonization Mass, which began at 10:00 a.m. local time (4:00 a.m. EDT). The event was open to the public without tickets, with access to the square permitted from 8:00 a.m. The Sistine Choir opened the ceremony with the hymn Veni Creator, invoking the Holy Spirit. Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, formally requested Pope Leo XIV to declare Frassati and Acutis saints. The Pope, vested in gold, pronounced the canonization formula in Latin, officially enrolling them among the saints, to thunderous applause from the congregation.[](https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en/notizie/comunicati/2025/informazioni-canonizzazioni-frassati-acutis.html)[](https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2025/09/07/pope-leo-xiv-declares-carlo-acutis-and-pier-giorgio-frassati-saints-in-a-celebration-of-youthful-devotion/)[](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266415/pope-declares-carlo-acutis-and-pier-giorgio-frassati-saints)
The Mass included readings in multiple languages, with Carlo’s younger brother, Michele Acutis, delivering the first reading in English. Pope Leo’s homily focused on the Book of Wisdom, likening the new saints to King Solomon, who sought divine wisdom over worldly pursuits. He described Pier Giorgio and Carlo as young men “in love with Jesus and ready to give everything for him,” emphasizing their ordinary yet profound lives of prayer, service, and charity. The Pope highlighted Pier Giorgio’s lay spirituality and service to the poor and Carlo’s Eucharistic devotion and use of technology, urging young people to follow their example and “direct their lives upwards to make them masterpieces.”[](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266415/pope-declares-carlo-acutis-and-pier-giorgio-frassati-saints)[](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-09/pope-leo-saints-call-us-to-god-make-masterpieces-of-our-lives.html)
The congregation included the Acutis family, relatives of Pier Giorgio, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and thousands of young pilgrims. Many wore t-shirts featuring the saints’ faces and quotes, such as Pier Giorgio’s “Wherever you can do a little good.” The atmosphere was electric with joy, as pilgrims like Australian Caroline Khouri and American Dana Marie Buchanan expressed awe at witnessing the canonization of two relatable saints who inspire hope for the Church’s future. After the Mass, Pope Leo led the Angelus and circled the square in his popemobile, blessing babies and greeting the faithful, invoking peace for conflict zones like the Holy Land and Ukraine.[](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266389/live-updates-canonization-of-carlo-acutis-and-pier-giorgio-frassati-the-first-saints-of-pope-leo-xiv)[](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266415/pope-declares-carlo-acutis-and-pier-giorgio-frassati-saints)
Significance
The joint canonization underscored the Church’s emphasis on youthful holiness during the Jubilee Year of Hope. By canonizing Pier Giorgio and Carlo together, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the universal call to holiness, showing that sanctity is attainable in different eras and contexts—whether through social action in the early 20th century or digital evangelization in the 21st century. The event drew global attention, with over 32 million pilgrims expected in Rome for the Jubilee Year, and was broadcast live by networks like EWTN and OSV News, ensuring widespread access.[](https://www.cathstan.org/us-world/where-to-watch-the-carlo-acutis-pier-giorgio-frassati-canonizations)[](https://www.foxnews.com/travel/pope-leo-xiv-canonize-modern-saints-weekend-faithful-flock-rome)
Conclusion
Saints Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis are powerful witnesses to the Gospel, showing that holiness is not an abstract ideal but a tangible reality achievable in everyday life. Pier Giorgio’s joyful service and commitment to the poor inspire lay Catholics to live their faith boldly, while Carlo’s Eucharistic devotion and digital savvy offer a roadmap for evangelization in the modern world. Their miracles—extraordinary healings that defy medical explanation—affirm their intercessory power, while their canonization on September 7, 2025, marks a historic moment for the Church, especially for young people. As Pope Leo XIV declared, these saints invite us “not to squander our lives, but to direct them upwards and make them masterpieces.” May Saints Pier Giorgio and Carlo pray for us and inspire us to climb “to the heights” of holiness.
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