Saints for the Modern World
Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis to be canonized on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
The Church will canonize Pier Giorgio Frassati on Sunday, September 7, 2025, along with Carlo Acutis, at St. Peter’s Square in Rome. His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will preside. This fulfills the dream of Pope Francis to canonize both young men during the Jubilee Holy Year 2025.
The canonizations of the two young saints—one from the early twentieth century, the other the first twenty-first-century saint—have been greatly anticipated due to the great devotion among the faithful.
The late Pope Francis had announced the canonizations of Blesseds Pier Giorgio and Carlo at the General Audience on November 20, 2024, prompting thunderous applause from the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
The canonization of Acutis, who was beatified in Assisi on October 10, 2020, had originally been scheduled for April 27, 2025, the Second Sunday of Easter, to coincide with the Jubilee of Teenagers, while Frassati’s canonization had been set for August 3, 2025, the culmination of the Jubilee for Youth.
The postponement of Blessed Carlo’s canonization was announced on the day of Pope Francis’ death, on April 21st, and it was widely assumed that Blessed Pier Giorgio’s canonization would similarly be delayed.
Doubts about the timing of the canonizations were finally resolved with the announcement by Pope Leo XIV, who made the choice to enroll among the number of the saints two young men from different eras who led completely different lives, but who are nonetheless united in their love for Christ and their ability to impart that love to those whose lives they touched. Source: Vatican News
The Man of the Beatitudes – Pier Giorgio Frassati
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) was an Italian young person who was affectionately called the “Man of the Beatitudes” by Saint John Paul II for his exemplary work of bringing comfort and happiness to those who were poor, suffering, meek, hungry, thirsty, and in need of mercy, and who was himself clean of heart, a peacemaker, and persecuted for the sake of the Gospel (cf. Mt 5:3-10). He died at the young adult age of 24 while in charitable service to the people who were sick and dying in his community.
Prayer for Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
Heavenly Father, give us the courage
to strive for the highest goals,
to flee every temptation to be mediocre.
Enable us to aspire to greatness, as Pier Giorgio did,
and to open our hearts in joy to your call to holiness.
Free us from the fear of failure.
We want to be, Lord, firmly and forever united to you.
Grant us the graces we ask thee through
Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati’s intercession,
by the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
The Digital Disciple – Carlo Acutis
Carlo Acutis was born on May 3, 1991, and died on October 12, 2006, in London, to Andrea Acutis and Antonia Salzano. From a young age, Carlo displayed a profound love for God and the Church that inspired his parents. “Before Carlo’s birth, I was really caught up in the culture of our time,” his mother says. “I was a prisoner of everything that is relative and limited.” But “Carlo showed me how to live in my century while turning toward eternity.” His family later moved to Milan, Italy, where Carlo’s passion for computer programming blossomed alongside his deepening faith. Carlo had a strong devotion to the Eucharist and his use of technology to promote the Catholic faith. Acutis is currently a blessed and on his way to canonization.
Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis
Oh God, Our Father,
thank you for giving us Carlo,
a life example for the young
and a message of love for everyone.
You made him become enamoured with
Your Son Jesus, Making of the Eucharist
his “Highway to Heaven”.
You gave him Mary, as a most loving Mother,
and, with the Rosary, you made him
a poet of her tenderness. Receive his prayer for us.
Above all, gaze upon the poor,
whom he loved and helped.
Grant for me too, by his intercession,
the grace that I need …
And make our joy fulfilled,
placing Carlo among the Saints
of your Church, so that his smile
may shine again for us in the glory of your name.
Amen
