NEW YORK — Leaders of the Diocese of Brooklyn are hoping a relic of Carlo Acutis will change how some people think of saints.
What You Need To Know
- Leaders of the Diocese of Brooklyn received a relic of Carlo Acutis that they hope will change how some people think of saints
- Acutis was a devout Catholic, known for his love of computers and for creating a website that reflected his love of the faith before his death from leukemia in 2006
- Church leaders plan to bring the relic around to schools in the diocese to show that a 15-year-old boy is in the process of becoming a saint
"They think of people who walk around with their hands folded all day and with this kind of pious grin on their face, and they forget that they were real people," said Msgr. Thomas Machalski.
Church officials say young people in particular can relate to the example of Acutis, the first millennial to be considered for sainthood.
"He was into technology, he was into video games, he was into playing soccer, he was into all the normal things that a 15-year-old boy would be into," Machalski said.
Msgr. David Cassato, who serves as vicar for catholic schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn, agreed.
"He was just like you and me, he was no one special," Cassato said. “He wore Nike sneakers. He wore a jogging suit.”
The teenager from Italy passed away of leukemia in 2006. But during his short life, he was a devout Catholic, known for his love of computers and for creating a website that reflected his love of the faith.
"He used his love of technology to catalog all the Eucharistic miracles that took place in the world,” Machalski said. “He cataloged all the apparitions of the blessed mother."
The diocese received strands of his hair with pride after the Pope attributed a miracle to Acutis: the healing of a boy in Brazil who had a malformed pancreas. According to the Vatican, the boy came into contact with one of Acutis's shirts.
"We have about 65, 67 elementary school which we'll bring the relic around to young people to understand that this is a 15-year-old boy that is really in the process of being a saint," Cassato said.
Acutis could become a saint if a second verified miracle is recognized by the Pope. Having his relic permanently is an honor for the Diocese.
"It's just incredible to think that a 15-year-old could have that depth of faith," Machalski said.
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