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The Diocese reported an increase of more than 121,000 visitors only in August, a figure driven by the jubilee of young people and the canonization of Acutis by Pope Leo XIV on September 7 in the Plaza de San Pedro.
Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 at age 15, is buried in the church of Santa María la Mayor in Assisi, where pilgrims can venerate their relics and contemplate their body dressed in jeans, a sports jacket and Nike shoes.
On the day of their canonization, the faithful filled the Church in Assisi to continue by live transmission the Mass, while a special train organized by the diocese transferred more than 800 pilgrims from Umbría to Rome to join the tens of thousands of people gathered in the Plaza de San Pedro.
In the canonization mass, Michele, Acutis’s brother, read a biblical reading in English, and Valeria Vargas Valverde – the young Costa Rican that was healed in 2022 by a miracle attributed to the intercession of the saint – pronounced one of the prayers of the faithful.
The next day, Mons. Domenico Sorrentino, Archbishop of Assisi, celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass in Carlo’s tomb, accompanied by the parents of the saint, Antonia and Andrea, and hundreds of pilgrims.
“We are all called to be saints, but each one in his own way. The path he drew is extremely simple and direct. It is the way to host all the gifts of God,” said Mons. Sorrentino in his homily.
“Long live life to the fullest,” he added. “If you love the colors, paint. If you like music, sings. If you are good in sports, try to be a champion. If you have intellectual talents, do not satisfy yourself with approveing the exam. If you are good on the Internet, do not fear also dominate this tool. Everything belongs to God and everything comes from God.”
In the party of the Nativity of Mary, the Archbishop recalled the deep devotion of Acutis to the Eucharist and the Virgin, noting that for the young “Mary and the Eucharist were one and inseparable love. He saw Jesus with the eyes of Mary, and loved Mary with the heart of Jesus.”
The celebrations in Assisi included, on September 5, the inauguration of a new bronze statue of Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz entitled “San Carlo on the Cross.” The sculpture, 3.48 meters high, represents the young saint holding a laptop with a chalice and a paten on the screen.
In the coming weeks, several cardinals of the curia plan to travel to Assisi to preside over thanksgiving masses. Cardinal Lazarus you heung-sik, prefect of the Dicastery for the clergy, will celebrate on September 28 at the Basilica of San Francisco in Assisi. Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicasterio for the causes of the saints, will do so on October 5 in the Basilica of Santa María de los Ángeles.
On October 12, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican, will preside over the Mass at the San Carlo Acutis party.
Translated and adapted by ACI Press. Originally published in CNA.
Courtney Mares
Courtney Mares is correspondent in the Vatican of Catholic News Agency (CNA), Ewtn News agency. Graduate from Harvard University, has reported from news offices on three continents and received the Gardner scholarship for its work with North Korean refugees.