October 12 | Saint Carlo Acutis

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, we are talking about a saint who might have worn the exact same clothes as you, played the exact same video games, and even scrolled the internet.

Picture this. It's a sunny afternoon in Milan, Italy. A teenage kid in jeans, casual clothes, and sneakers is sitting in his bedroom. On one half of his desk is a video game controller. On the other half is a computer screen glowing with lines of complex programming code. To his friends, he's just Carlo, a boy who loves playing soccer, video games, and talking about computers. But what they don't see is that this teenager is quietly building a digital highway that will inspire millions across the globe.

This is Saint Carlo Acutis, the first millennial to be beatified. He is the patron saint of youth, computer programmers, the internet, and Eucharistic devotion. Carlo was born on May 3, 1991, in London, England, but he grew up in Milan, Italy. Carlo had a deep love for the Mass and the Eucharist. He famously called the Eucharist his highway to heaven. He placed Christ at the center of his daily life.

When Carlo was only 11 years old, he realized he could use his natural gift with technology for evangelization. He decided to build a website. He set out to catalog every single Eucharistic miracle ever recorded across the globe. For years, Carlo researched, cataloged, and coded. He built a digital website that made these miracles accessible to millions of people online. Today, his website has been turned into an international exhibition that continues to inspire devotion around the world. But Carlo wasn't just a saint online.

He lived his faith simply and fully in the real world. Every day, he prayed the rosary. When he saw classmates being bullied at school, Carlo was the one who defended them and became their protector. He visited the poor and helped them in Milan. He was the kind of friend who made everyone feel like they mattered, constantly reminding his friends that God is always near.

Then, in 2006, when Carlo was only 15 years old, his life took a sudden, dramatic turn. He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia. Carlo faced his illness with remarkable serenity, offering all of his suffering up for the Church and the Pope. Shortly before he died, Carlo said, I'm happy to die because I've lived my life without wasting even a minute on things that displease God. On October 12, 2006, Carlo died in Monza, Italy. He was buried in Assisi, a city he loved for its connection to St.

Francis. In October 2020, Pope Francis beatified him, making him a powerful reminder that holiness is possible for teenagers in jeans and sneakers. And on September 7, 2025, Pope Leo XIV officially declared him a saint. Carlos' life is proof that you don't need to be a priest or live hundreds of years ago to be a saint. You can be a saint in jeans and sneakers. Today, when you open your favorite apps, whether it's on a laptop or smartphone, ask yourself, how can I use this digital highway for good?

Maybe it's sending an encouraging message to a friend who is going through a rough time. Maybe it's standing up for someone online or in person who is being made fun of, just like Carlo defended his bullied classmates. Or maybe it's simply turning off your screen for 10 minutes today to pray the rosary or tell God what's on your mind. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.