Assisi to honor first millennial saint 20 years after his death

Commemorating the 20th anniversary of St. Carlo Acutis’ death, pilgrims will gather in Assisi, Italy, Oct. 9–12 to honor the first millennial saint through Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and personal testimonies.

The Sanctuary of the Renunciation, where his body is entombed, will host opportunities for pilgrims to pray and reflect on St. Acutis’ life and devotion to the Eucharist, according to an Oct. 1 press release from the Diocese of Assisi.

The observance will honor St. Acutis’ witness of faith in daily life, including his online evangelization documenting Eucharistic miracles, which has drawn attention to the beauty and reality of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. He died of leukemia in 2006 at age 15 and was canonized alongside St. Pier Giorgio Frassati in 2025, as Zeale News previously reported.

The anniversary program will begin Oct. 9 with Mass and an evening of testimony and music led by Father Francesco Fiorillo of the San Magno Monastery Fraternity in Fondi, Italy. Pilgrims will gather for Mass and Eucharistic Adoration the following day.

Devotion to St. Acutis continues to draw people of all ages to Assisi. More than 1.7 million people have visited the sanctuary since July 2025, with hundreds arriving daily from around the world to pray at his tomb, according to the release.

St. Acutis’ tomb has also drawn pilgrims participating in Assisi’s observance of 800 years since St. Francis’ death, with most of the nearly 400,000 people who venerated St. Francis’ remains earlier this year also coming to venerate St. Acutis, the release noted.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will preside at Mass Oct. 11, before the observance concludes Oct. 12, the saint's liturgical memorial, with Mass led by Bishop Felice Accrocca of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino and Foligno.

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