A new church dedicated to Blessed Carlo Acutis, the Roman Catholic Church's first 'millennial saint', has been consecrated in Pallikkara, Kakkanad, near Kochi, Kerala. The consecration took place on Sunday, September 7, 2025. The Archbishop of Varapuzha, Joseph Kalathiparambil, blessed the church.
Carlo Acutis, who died at the age of 15 in 2006, was known for his exceptional intelligence, internet skills, and deep spirituality. He was born in London on May 3, 1991, and grew up in Milan, Italy. He used his technological skills to create websites dedicated to Catholic teachings and miracles. He managed his parish's website and later a Vatican-based academy. Carlo was dubbed "God's Influencer" for his use of the internet to share his faith and inspire others.
Acutis regularly attended church, created a website listing Eucharistic miracles, and performed numerous acts of kindness. He is on the path to becoming the first millennial saint of the Catholic Church. Acutis's beatification in 2020 recognized the first miracle attributed to him, and a second miracle has since been recognized, paving the way for his canonization. The second miracle occurred in July 2022 when a university student from Costa Rica, Valeria, who suffered severe head trauma in a bicycle accident, miraculously recovered after her mother prayed at Carlo's tomb in Assisi, Italy.
Eucharistic miracles involve the Eucharist, where Christian denominations, especially the Catholic Church, believe that Christ is truly present. These miracles often involve unexplained phenomena, such as consecrated Hosts transforming into heart tissue, remaining preserved for extended periods, surviving fire, bleeding, or sustaining people for decades. In the Catholic Church, a special commission investigates supposed Eucharistic miracles to differentiate them from bacterial contamination. The Vatican has also recognized the appearance of Christ's face on a Sacred Host during Mass in a Kerala church in Vilakkannur 12 years ago as a Eucharistic miracle.
The newest church dedicated to Carlo Acutis was consecrated after he had been canonised earlier in the day at the Vatican. The sainthood ceremony for Carlo had been originally scheduled for April 27 but was suspended because of Pope Francis's death six days earlier. His life and miracles highlight the power of prayer and the impact of living a faith-filled life. Carlo Acutis's journey from a tech-savvy teenager to a saint is a testament to his unwavering faith and dedication to spreading the Catholic faith. His legacy as "God's Influencer" continues to inspire people worldwide and bridges the gap between the Church and young Catholics, demonstrating the relevance of faith in the digital age.
