"Pope set to declare London teen 'God's influencer' a saint"

In a glass case embedded in the wall behind the altar of a chapel in northern Rome rests a collection of items linked to Carlo Acutis. Among them are a sliver of his wooden bed, a piece of his sweater, and a section of the sheet draped over him after his passing. Strands of his hair are also displayed in churches across Rome and elsewhere in Italy.

Acutis, born in London to Italian parents, will soon be declared the Catholic Church’s first saint from the millennial generation. Before his death at age 15 from leukemia, he created websites to share Catholic teachings, leading to his posthumous recognition as "God’s Influencer."

These artifacts are part of a long-standing tradition honoring the church’s most revered figures, serving as physical connections to his life. Though the relics at Sant’Angela Merici are small, Danilo Spagnoletti, the local priest, believes they offer strength to those who visit.

“Praying near a saint’s remains helps people confront life’s struggles,” he said. “This saint, whose life was brief but remarkable in many ways, inspires young people especially.”

Acutis, who died in 2006, will be canonized alongside Pier Giorgio Frassati, another young Catholic figure who passed away a century ago. The ceremony is anticipated to draw large crowds to Rome.

Relics are classified into three categories. The items at Sant’Angela Merici fall into the second and third tiers, which draw steady visitors. However, it is first-class relics—a saint’s body or bodily remains—that attract the most attention.

Over the past year, more than a million people have visited Assisi, where Acutis’s body, preserved in wax and clothed in a blue jacket, jeans, and sneakers, is displayed in the Santa Maria Maggiore church. His heart rests in a gold case at San Rufino Cathedral, while portions of his pericardium have been exhibited worldwide ahead of his sainthood.

His mother, Antonia Salzano, has traveled extensively, speaking about her son’s life and sharing strands of his hair with communities.

The relics have been provided by his family, though they will become Vatican property after his canonization.

Acutis was born in London, where his father worked in finance, before the family relocated to Milan when he was an infant.

Salzano shared with CuriosityNews that while the family was not particularly devout, her son displayed a strong faith from childhood.

“He attended mass and prayed the rosary daily,” she said, describing him as someone who “could not ignore suffering.” “Living in central Milan, we were surrounded by people in need. He always wanted to help—offering food, blankets, and conversation.”

She added that, in other ways, Acutis was an ordinary child who enjoyed spending time with friends.