Pope Leo XIV declares teen internet star ‘God’s influencer’ and first millennial saint

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Pope Leo XIV has designated a tech-savvy teenager who passed away in 2006 as the world’s first millennial saint. The late British-Italian internet sensation was affectionately referred to by the pope as ‘God’s digital messenger’ or ‘Divine Influencer.’

At just 15 years old, Carlo Acutis passed away, yet his impact continues through the world due to Pope Leo’s declaration of him as a saint approximately twenty years following his demise.

Throughout his childhood in the ’90s and early 2000s, Acutis nurtured a profound passion for video games and technology. He went so far as to educate himself about programming and web development on his own.

Growing up during the ’90s and early 2000s, Acutis developed a deep-seated fascination with video games and computers. Self-taught in programming and website creation, he pursued these interests tirelessly.

Instead of creating web pages using his tech enthusiasm, he primarily focused on designing websites – one of which was dedicated to chronicling “Eucharistic miracles” and claimed appearances of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, for his school and parish.

At age 15, Acutis was identified with acute promyelocytic leukemia, a cancer form impacting the body’s white blood cell production. Tragically, he succumbed to this disease only a few days following his diagnosis when his parents took him to the hospital due to a persistent sore throat.

Teen gamer becomes ‘God’s first influencer’ & millennial saint

Since his passing, Acutis has been deeply respected within the Catholic community for utilizing technology and the internet at an early stage to educate others about their faith. In the year 2025, Pope Leo XIV, who had recently taken office, declared him a saint.

In Leo’s September 7 speech, he emphasized that the most significant danger in life is to let it pass without living it according to God’s purpose. He further stated that the examples set by new saints serve as a call for everyone, particularly the young, to avoid wasting their lives but rather aim them towards higher goals and strive to create meaningful, masterful lives.

27-year-old Roman citizen Leopoldo Antimi expressed views about Acutis’ legacy that were shared by many Catholic Italians when he spoke to PBS.

Or, in a more conversational tone:
Leopoldo Antimi, a 27-year-old Roman citizen, mirrored the feelings of other Italian Catholics on Acutis’ legacy when he talked to PBS.

He shared with the media what various individuals had told him about his friend’s teachers and professors speaking highly of his joy and radiance. Personally, for him being an Italian, it’s crucial to have this individual serving as a positive influence on social media networks that are widely used.

In more casual language, this could be rephrased as: “Recently, news about Pope Leo XIV going viral has been making waves, especially since he took up his role in 2025. What’s particularly intriguing is that it was discovered he shares a family connection with celebrities like Justin Bieber, Madonna, and Angelina Jolie, adding to the fact that he’s the first American Pope ever elected.

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2025-09-08 20:48