The Vatican has released an update on the pending sainthood of teenager Carlo Acutis, aka 'God's influencer'.
Born in London but raised in Italy, Acutis was just 15 years old when he passed away from leukaemia back in 2006. However the teenager had developed a strong connection to the Catholic faith during his short life and even used his computer skills to set up a website in which he documented 'Christian-related miracles' around the world.
The teenager's dedication to his faith wouldn't go unnoticed either, with numerous miracles posthumously attributed to Acutis after his passing.
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In 2020 the Catholic Church recognised that a six-year-old boy also inexplicably recovered from a rare pancreatic condition after touching a relic belonging to Acutis.
He would then have a second miracle attributed to his name just two years later.
In 2022 a woman named Valeria Valverde suffered a severe head injury after falling from her bicycle and needed surgery for her extensive injuries.
However the woman's condition would rapidly improve after her mother made a pilgrimage to the teen's resting place. Not only did Valverde's haemorrhage disappear, but she also inexplicably regained speech and mobility.
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And you know what happens after you've performed two confirmed miracles? Sainthood.
The path to God's influencer receiving canonisation was set into motion by the late Pope Francis in 2024, allowing for the church to accept its first ever millennial saint.
Acutis was scheduled to be made a saint in just a couple of days, with a ceremony set for 27 April, however this has now been postponed.
As you'll already know, Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Monday after suffering from irreversible heart failure and a cerebral stroke.
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The Catholic world has now entered a period of mourning ahead of the Pontiff's funeral this coming Saturday (26 April), which means that cardinals in the Vatican will be pretty preoccupied.
Acutis' postponement has now confirmed by the Vatican as preparations for the funeral of Pope Francis take precedent, with the following statement: "Following the death of the Sovereign Pontiff Francis, we inform you that the Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis... has been postponed."
The Vatican didn't confirm a rescheduled date in which the canonisation would take place, however it's common for numerous church functions to be put on hold until a new pope is elected.
In the meantime, worshippers looking to make a pilgrimage to Acutis can visit his preserved body encased in a wax mould, which lies in a tomb housed in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Italy.
Topics: World News
Brenna Cooper