The Vatican postpones canonisation of 15-year-old saint Carlo Acutis after Pope Francis’ death
Following the death of Pope Francis on Monday, the Vatican has announced that the canonisation of the first millennial saint has been delayed.
15-year-old Carlo Acutis - who was born in London - died in 2006 in northern Italy from leukaemia.
During his short life, the teen had developed a strong connection to Catholic faith, and even set up a website dedicated to 'Christian-related miracles'. He was later dubbed 'God's influencer', such was his success online.
Following his death, a group of priests and friends started the movement to make him a saint and Acutis was officially named 'venerable' back in 2018.
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The church recognised him as leading a 'virtuous' life, and then took the step of moving his body to a shrine in Assisi’s Santuario della Spogliazione.
Members of the faithful have flocked to view his persevered body which has been encased in wax and clad in jeans, a sweatshirt and trainers.
The teenager was then declared to be 'blessed' in 2020 when the Vatican recognised a miraculous healing after visiting Acutis.
A child in Brazil apparently recovered in a 'scientifically inexplainable' manner.
The seven-year-old boy had been suffering from a rare pancreatic disorder and was said to be completely healed after coming into contact with one of Acutis’ T-shirts.
And just last year, a second miracle was attributed to Acutis.
It is said that a Costa Rican student in Italy had 'complete healing' from major head trauma from an accident after her mother prayed at Acutis’ tomb.
If two miracles are approved by the pope and are attributed to a deceased person then they qualify for sainthood.
His canonisation was expected to take place next Sunday in St. Peter's Square, on the day usually used to celebrate the Jubilee for adolescents.
However, it will now be delayed while there is a period of mourning followed by a secret vote to name the new pope.
Acutis' mother, Antonia Salzano, told Reuters that while he was special, he was still a normal child with a normal life: “Carlo was an ordinary child like [others]. He used to play, to have friends, and to go to school. But his extraordinary quality was the fact that he opened the door of his heart to Jesus and put Jesus in the first place in his life.
"Carlo told me he saw my father who asked him for prayers, and he started to pray a lot for dead people. He was only five.
"We lived in the centre of Milan, a town full of beggars, and he would stop and say, “I have everything, a bed and meals, and these people are suffering with nothing."
He only allowed himself one pair of shoes at a time, and did work to help others.
Once canonised, he will be the church’s 913th saint, and the first one born between 1981 and 1996.
Topics: News, World News, Pope Francis
Jen Thomas