10 things about computer programmer Carlo Acutis

Carlo Acutis was an Italian computer programmer. He was Catholic and he dedicated his life to catechism, music, philanthropy and technology.

“He was a normal boy in many ways so he was not perfect but he had a very strong will and with this will, he improved himself in many ways,” Acutis’s mother told the National Catholic Register in February 2020. “He would say, “What does it matter if you can win a thousand battles if you cannot win against your own corrupt passions? It doesn’t matter. The real battle is with ourselves.”

BIOGRAPHY

Acutis loved animals, football, action films, PlayStation and the fictional character Pokémon. Here are 10 more things about him:

1. His baptismal name was Carlo Maria Antonio.
2. He was born in London, England, United Kingdom to wealthy Italian parents Andrea Acutis and Antonia Salzano, who were in London on business.
3. He inspired Raejsh, a Hindu who cleaned at his house, to decide to be baptized in the Catholic church.
4. He had two cats, four dogs and many goldfish.
5. In 1994, he and his family moved to a building on Via Arosto in Milan.
6. In 1995, he entered preschool.
7. After his first communion in 1998, he became a frequent communicant and religiously reflected in front of the tabernacle before or after mass.
8. In 2002, he started visiting Eucharistic miracles all over the world with his parents and he documented all of them.
9. In 2005, he created a Eucharistic Miracle display that would tour the world along with a website.
10. In 2006, he died in Monza, Italy at age 15.

TIMELINE

From elementary to middle school, Carlo went to the Institute of the Marcelline Sisters in Piazza Tommaseo in Milan. For his secondary education, he was taught by the Jesuits at the Leo XIII Classical Lyceum in Milan.

1990s

• On May 18, 1991, he was baptized at Our Lady of Dolours Church in London. 
• In September 1991, he and his parents returned from London to Milan, Italy.
• On June 16, 1998, he received the Eucharist in silence of the Bernaga monastery, which is near Lecco, Italy.

2000s

• On May 3, 2006, he turned 15.
• On October 1, 2006, he became ill with flu and was diagnosed with parotitis and dehydration.
• On October 8, 2006, he was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia.
• On October 11, 2006, he was pronounced brain dead.
• At 6:45 p.m. on October 12, 2006, he died of chronic myeloid leukemia while he was in a hospital in Monza.

2010s

• On October 12, 2010, his mother gave birth to fraternal twins Francesca Acutis and Michele Acutis.
• On October 12, 2012, the Archdiocese of Milan opened his cause for canonisation.

2020s

• On October 10, 2020, he was beautified at the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Assisi, Italy. Cardinal Agostino Vallini presided on behalf of Pope Francis.
• On July 1, 2024, Pope Francis presided at an ordinary consistory of cardinals, which approved the canonisation of 15 people including him.
• On September 7, 2025, Pope Leo presided over his canonisation in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.