The tomb, found in Assisi, Italy, is of white stone.  Inside the glass coffin lies the teenager Blessed Carlo Acutis, apparently sleeping.  His face is peaceful and kind.  There is a rosary in his hands.  The young boy is dressed in jeans, sneakers and a casual sports top.  This young boy would often give up his possessions, clothes and shoes to help the poor and for this reason he is buried in Assisi like his favorite saint St. Francis of Assisi, who taught us about poverty.

Born in London to wealthy Italian parents, Carlo returned to his family’s native Italy, more specifically Milan, not long after his birth.  His mother was at our Eucharistic Congress this past month and she told us how her son loved soccer, Pokémon, action films and many animals as he had four dogs, two cats and many goldfish.  Although his family did not practice the faith, Carlo was fascinated and moved by it.  He found his Polish babysitter as a guide to his growing interest in Catholicism.

As a little child, Carlo’s deceased grandfather appeared to him in a dream asking for prayers for himself.  Carlo was so in love with Jesus that he would never pass a church without going in to “say hello to Jesus.”  As a result of his religious fervor, his mother and father returned to the faith.  Carlo received his First Holy Communion at the age of seven. After receiving this sacrament, Carlo was always seen praying before the tabernacle before and after mass.   He took several saints as his models for holiness including St. Francis of Assisi, St. Dominic Savio and St. Bernadette Sourbirous.

In primary school Carlo had taught himself how to code and build websites.  His most popular websites were those listing Eucharistic miracles from around the world based on a catalogue he complied since the age of eleven.   He believed that if people realized that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, then they would return to their faith.

He loved the power of the Eucharist commenting often that “If we get in front of the sun, we get sun tans, but when we get in front of Jesus in the Eucharist, we become Saints.”  Carlo knew that he would die young.  In October of 2006 Carlo came down with the flu.  He was admitted to the hospital and received the terrible news that he had leukemia.  This 15-year old boy took the news calmly offering all of his sufferings for the Pope, the Church and his entry into heaven.  He said, “I am happy to die because I have lived my life without wasting a minute on those things which do not please God.”   This strong and faithful young man died on October 12, 2006 at the age of 15 in Monza, Italy.

Exactly four years following his death, his mother at the age of 44 gave birth to twins which she attributed to her son’s intercession.

Carlo was named a “Servant of God” in 2013.  Then, a miracle was attributed to him in November of 2019.  In that miracle there was a seven-year old child born with a pancreatic defect and the child was miraculously healed.  The following year Carlo was beatified.  Among the thousands present for Carlo’s beatification at Assisi’s Basilica of St. Francis, were many of his childhood friends.

Presiding at the beatification ceremony was Cardinal Agostino Vallini who praised Carlo as an example of how young people can use technology to spread the Gospel and “to reach many people and help them know the beauty of friendship with the Lord.”   There is another miracle being currently studied for this young man’s canonization.  Although Carlo died at a young age, his personal holiness and discipleship have left us a wonderful legacy.  He was known to say that he would always “be close to Jesus, that is my life’s plan.”

Now, through his great witness he has inspired all of us to do the same—pray before the tabernacle.  His liturgical feast is October 12th.  Blessed Carlo Acutis, pray for us.

The Rev. Gus Puleo serves as director of the English as a Second Language (ESL) program and the Spanish Department at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, where he also teaches English and Spanish. He is a graduate of Norristown High School and attended Georgetown University, where he received B.A. and B.S. in Spanish and linguistics. He has master’s degrees in Spanish, linguistics and divinity from Middlebury College, Georgetown University and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He holds a Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the former pastor of St. Patrick Church in Norristown.