Carlo Acutis’ story is a perfect example. Not only was his major relic recently welcomed throughout our Diocese, but his journey to sainthood also helps explain how the Catholic Church recognises someone as a saint.

A teenager who loved computers, football and video games may not sound like the typical saint. Yet that’s exactly why Carlo has captured the imagination of people around the world.

The Church teaches that there are countless saints known only to God. Some, however, are officially recognised because their lives provide outstanding examples of faith, courage and virtue.

A common misconception is that the Church “makes” someone a saint. In reality, the Church believes God has already done that. Canonisation is simply the process of carefully examining a person’s life and recognising their holiness.

Friends recall their kindness. Family members remember their faith. Communities remember the difference they made. Over time, a reputation develops that this person lived an unusually Christ-like life.

That was certainly true for Carlo Acutis.

Born in Italy in 1991, Carlo loved sport, computers and spending time with friends. He also had a deep faith and a genuine concern for those in need.

Long before social media influencers filled our screens, Carlo used technology to share his faith. He created a website documenting Eucharistic miracles from around the world and used his computer skills to spread the Gospel. It is little wonder he became known as the “patron saint of the internet generation”.

When Carlo died from leukaemia in 2006 at the age of 15, devotion to him spread rapidly across the globe.

In most cases, at least five years must pass after a person’s death before the process can begin. This allows emotions to settle and ensures the person’s life can be examined fairly and objectively.

Even then, the process can take many years. Carlo died in 2006, and his cause for canonisation was officially opened in 2013.

At this stage, the person receives the title Servant of God.

Investigators gather writings, interview people who knew the person and examine historical records. The central question is simple:

Did this person consistently live the virtues of faith, hope and love in an extraordinary way?

The Pope may then declare the person Venerable.

This means the Church officially recognises that the individual lived a life of exceptional Christian virtue and is worthy of imitation.

In 2018, Pope Francis declared Carlo Acutis Venerable, recognising the extraordinary faith he demonstrated during his short life.

For most candidates, this requires evidence of a miracle that occurred after people prayed for their intercession.

The Church approaches miracle claims carefully, consulting medical professionals, scientists and theologians before recognising a miracle.

One miracle attributed to Carlo involved the healing of a young boy in Brazil. Following extensive investigation, the Church concluded that the healing could not be explained naturally. As a result, Carlo was beatified in 2020 and became known as Blessed Carlo Acutis.

In most cases, a second miracle is required after beatification. Once this miracle has been investigated and approved, the Pope may formally declare the person a saint. This declaration allows the saint to be honoured throughout the universal Church.

Catholics do not worship saints. Worship belongs to God alone.

Instead, saints are role models who show what a life of faith can look like in different circumstances and different eras. Catholics also ask saints to pray for them, much as someone might ask a friend or family member to pray for them.

The lives of the saints remind believers that holiness is not reserved for priests, popes or people from centuries ago.

He was not a king, bishop or famous theologian. He was a teenager who did homework, played sport, used computers and enjoyed video games.

Yet amid the distractions of modern life, Carlo understood something profound. Holiness was not about doing extraordinary things, but about doing ordinary things with extraordinary love.

His story reminds us that sainthood is not a relic of the past. It remains a calling for every person today.

Whether in a church, a classroom, a workplace or online, the path to holiness begins in the same way it always has: through small acts of faith, kindness, generosity and service.