Submitted by Amber Konerman ’23, Assistant Registrar

“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.”- St. Carlo Acutis

St. Carlo Acutis was just like any other kid growing up in the early 2000s in Italy. He enjoyed watching action movies, playing football, Pokémon and playing video games. At age 14, Carlo created his own website for the biggest interest of his life, the Holy Eucharist.

Carlo was born on May 3, 1991 to Andrea Acutis, his father, and Antonia Salzano, his mother, in London, England. A couple months after the birth of Carlo, the family moved to Milan, Italy.

St. Carlo’s love for the Holy Eucharist began at a very young age. He could not pass by a church without going in and saying hi to Jesus. When he was seven years old, Blessed Carlo received his First Holy Communion per his request. Because his love for the Eucharist was so strong, Carlo’s mother returned to the Catholic faith. His father did the same shortly after.

St. Carlo called the Holy Eucharist his “highway to Heaven.” His reverence for the Body of Christ was exceptional. He found Eucharistic miracles specifically interesting. As he and his parents traveled the world, Carlo documented the miracles on the website that he created. By age 14, he created a Eucharistic Miracles display that would tour the world accompanied by his website.

As Carlo grew up, his love for God and the Eucharist was strong. He believed that if people came to know the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, they would turn to God. Throughout his teenage years, Carlo became a catechist so he could help spread the word of God.

At age 15, Carlo fell ill and was diagnosed with Leukemia. With only days to live, Carlo offered up his suffering for the Pope, the Church, and his direct entry into Heaven as he had a fear of purgatory. Carlo took his inevitable death with grace, saying, “I am happy to die… I have lived my life without wasting a minute on those things which do not please God.”

Carlo peacefully passed away on October 12, 2006. While in the hospital, Carlo had promised his mother that he would send her signs that he is in Heaven. Exactly four years after Carlo passed, his mother gave birth to twins at age 44.

Today, the Catholic church sees St. Carlo as an example for young people on how to use gifts and talents for the glory of God.

Editor’s note: St. Carlo Acutis was canonized by Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 7, 2025. Read more about his canonization here.