In a ceremony that drew tens of thousands of worshippers from all over to St Peter’s Square in Rome, Pope Leo XIV canonized Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati on 7 September 2025.

The two saints – Frassati, from the early 20th century, and Acutis, the Church’s first millennial to be made a saint – have been at the center of great devotion among the faithful. They are also the first to be canonized by the new Pope.

Acutis’s mother, Antonia Salzano, was present at the canonization Mass with her family, including the new saint’s two siblings. His brother, Michele, took one of the readings!

Carlo Acutis was born in London on 3 May 1991 and died of leukemia at the age of 15. His parents had moved to London from Italy in 1988 but moved back to Milan soon after young Acutis was born. He was an obedient child who insisted on going to Mass daily as a youngster. He received his first Holy Communion at age 7. In his short but extraordinary life, he was particularly devoted to the Eucharist, which he referred to as his “highway to heaven”, and to the Virgin Mary.

Acutis was enrolled at Istituto Leone XIII, a Jesuit school. His teachers said that he was bright and had a gift for computers but was also known for being kind and for looking out for his schoolmates.

Pier Giorgio Frassati, born in Turin in 1901, grew up in a wealthy and influential family but chose a very different path from privilege. From a young age, he dedicated himself to helping the poor, joining the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and spending much of his free time in Turin’s poorest neighborhoods, bringing food, medicine, and encouragement. He was also educated by the Jesuits, whose spirituality left a deep mark on his life of prayer and service. His love for prayer, the sacraments, and solidarity with the marginalized earned him the admiration of his friends, who often recalled his joyful and energetic personality.

Frassati was also known for his adventurous spirit, especially his passion for mountain climbing. On his alpine excursions, he inspired companions with his deep faith, often leading them in prayer at the summits. He died unexpectedly in 1925, at just 24 years old, after contracting polio, likely through his work with the sick. At his funeral, thousands of the city’s poor came to honor the young man who had quietly served them. Beatified in 1990 by Pope John Paul II, he is now canonized as a saint and remembered as a model for youth who unite faith, joy, and solidarity with the most vulnerable.

Together, Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati offer the Church two powerful examples of youthful holiness. Though separated by nearly a century, both lived with contagious joy, a passion for their faith, and a tireless commitment to serving others. Acutis brought his devotion into the digital age, using his skills with computers to spread love for the Eucharist, while Frassati lived his witness through direct service and fellowship, bringing Christ’s light to the poor and to his friends. Their canonization side by side is a sign that holiness is not bound by time or circumstance, but always accessible to those who embrace faith with generosity and courage.