Pope Francis confirms Vatican City to be the permanent home for holy relic of Carlo Acutis

Late teenager Carlo Acutis, who died aged 15, is now set to become the patron saint of the internet, as well as the patron saint of Assisi.

On Saturday 1st October 2022, Pope Francis announced that the remains of Carlo Acutis are to be permanently kept in the Vatican, following the conclusion of his pilgrimage around Italy.

In his homily read by Cardinal August Vallini, the Pope described Acutis as "an example for young people, demonstrating the power of the Eucharist to overcome evil with good." Acutis was born in London in 1991 and died in 2006 due to leukaemia. He is widely known for his devotion to the Eucharist and his work with the poor and homeless.

In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI authorised the opening of the cause for Acutis' beatification. In 2020, he was declared venerable and a miracle attributed to his intercession led to his beatification by Pope Francis on 10 October 2020.

Carlo Acutis was buried in Assisi in 2006, however his body was exhumed in 2019 for examination. The remains were found to be largely intact and have since been displayed in a glass casket in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi.

Since his beatification, there have been increasing calls for Acutis to be made a saint. In June 2022, a second miracle attributed to his intercession was approved by the Vatican, paving the way for his canonization.

The Vatican has not yet announced a date for Acutis' canonization, but it is expected to take place in 2023. Once Acutis is canonized, he will become the first saint to be born in the 21st century.