Young people inspired by the saints acutis and phrassati: they were normal boys like us

It shows that it is a special Sunday in the Vatican. The surroundings of the Plaza de San Pedro have been filled from the early hour of songs, flags and prayers in several languages ​​that have accompanied the first canonization held by Pope Leo XIV from the first hour.

Many of the participants have been young people who feel the new saints, Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, as two referents who speak directly to their heart for having lived their same challenges.

This group of students from the University of Dallas (Texas, United States) patiently waited several hours to access the Plaza de San Pedro. They arrived in Rome two days after more than ten hours of flight and, despite tiredness, they got up early to be as close as possible to Pope Leo XIV. The joy on his faces spoke on his own.

“Both Acutis and Frassati were quite normal boys like us; I don’t know if this is exactly the right word, but they enjoyed life very much and lived it to the fullest, they knew how to do it in the right way. That is a great example for us,” said Thomas.

It is his first time in Italy. But for them, this trip is much more than an experience focused on fun. “It is a gift to be here,” Eugene said, on the other hand, who also recognizes feeling impacted by the way Acutis knew how to use technology to evangelize.

“I am very inspired how Internet used, something so common in our lives, to talk about God,” he added.

You don’t have to be perfect to be holy

For his part, Jonathan confessed that discovering the life of Frassati changed the perspective about holiness: “I have read that Frassati was not a good student. That is, you don’t have to be perfect to be holy.”

His youth enthusiasm mixed with the simple faith of other pilgrims arrived from all over Italy. Among them, a group of religion teachers who see in Acutis and Frassati two wonderful resources to convey faith to their students. “They are two fundamental reference figures to convey the gospel to the new generations,” said Daniela Messina, a Sicilian teacher.

Messina stressed how Acutis’s life, a first holy born in this century, especially plays the hearts of adolescents: “That characteristic can truly make boys understand the meaning of loving Jesus.”

In addition, he insisted on the strength of his testimony in the digital world: “He is the saint of technology, because now technology arrives directly to the boys and is the only medium, perhaps today, effective for the message of the fraternity and the respect that today is lacking today.”

Chiara Chiaradia, a teacher in a Calabria primary, also highlighted that educational dimension: “It is an instrument of this day. Knowing how positively, in the best possible way, to reach others, to spread faith, to communicate beautiful things.”

Spiritual thirst for young people

Although they recognized the difficulties of teaching religion in today’s school, they also perceived a spiritual thirst among the youngest. “It is difficult today to teach … but we have realized that young people really want to know and have many values, and this is demonstrated by the fact that they are here not only to live a beautiful, pleasant, joyful moment, but because they truly believe in this need for spirituality,” Chiaradia concluded.

The canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati not only opens a new chapter in the history of the Catholic Church, but also confirms that holiness is not heritage of distant times.

This is also felt by Philipp and Jonas, two 24 -year -old Germans. “It is a unique opportunity to be close to these young saints,” said Jonas.

Like many other pilgrims present in the canonization this Sunday, they were also here on April 27, date in the beginning it was going to be Canonized Acutis. Finally, the death of Pope Francis forced the Holy See to choose a new date.

When Pope Leo XIV set it for this Sunday, joining his celebration to that of the Blessed Frassati, initially scheduled for August 3, they did not hesitate to organize the trip again.

Holiness is not impossible

What attracts them most about Acutis and Frassati is the closeness of their lives. “They show that they were normal young people like us and that they reached holiness. That gives us hope: it is not impossible, it is also very possible for common people,” said Jonas.

In particular, Frassati is for them a model of faith lived simply. “His example shows that holiness can be sought in everyday.

For these German pilgrims, the Church is right by proposing referents close to youth. “It is important to have an orientation. See that normal people like us came to holiness encourages us to follow the same path,” they concluded.