The Pope greets the pilgrims by surprise before the canonization of Acutis and Frassati

Before starting the solemn canonization mass of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, Pope Leo XIV surprised this Sunday with spontaneous greeting to the thousands of people participating in this solemn celebration.

Upon arriving at the atrium of the Plaza de San Pedro, he stopped for a few seconds to pray to the relics of the Saints Carlo Acutis, born in London in 1991 and died in Monza in 2006, and Pier Giorgio Frassati, a very popular engineering student in Italy, who died in 1925 in Turin at age 24.

“All of you, all of us too, are called to be saints,” said the Pontiff after wishing a happy Sunday to all.

Leo XIV, who canoniza today to his first two saints since the beginning of the pontificate, dedicated a few words to young people: “I wanted to greet so many young people who have come for this Holy Mass. It is truly a blessing of the Lord to meet here, you who have come from several countries, a gift of faith that we want to share.”

The Pontiff also addressed the families of the new saints, to the official delegations and the bishops and priests present.

And he invited all the faithful to live the ceremony with a spirit of prayer: “Let’s prepare for this liturgical celebration with prayer, with an open heart, really wishing to receive this grace of the Lord, and we all feel in our hearts the same thing that Pier Giorgio and Carlo lived, this love for Jesus Christ, especially in the Eucharist, but also in the poor, in his brothers and sisters.”

Finally, he assured his intention to move on to the mobile father to greet all the faithful who have been early in order to participate in this celebration.