Hundreds gather to honour future saint

More than 2,500 people visited the relics in the first two days of the four day visit

Thousands of people are making a pilgrimage to a church in a large housing estate to honour an Italian teenager nicknamed "God's influencer", who will be canonised as the Catholic Church's first millennial saint next year.

A relic of London-born web-producer Blessed Carlo Acutis , who died aged 15 in 2006, is being viewed at St Anthony’s Church, Wythenshawe, Manchester.

The relic of his heart, kept in an ornate container called a reliquary, is on view in the church.

Such was the demand to see it that church authorities asked people to use a major ticketing website to book timeslots to pray in the church.

The gathering particularly attracted young families who queued a long time to honour the youthful saint.

Mother-of-six Joanna Lees from Manchester said: "My 13-year-old was particular impressed with his use of the internet.

"We have a disabled child who was very touched when they heard of his love for disabled people," she added.

Chester-based clinical psychologist Joanna Moretto, who is originally from Italy, said: "I came here to ask his prayers for the troubled young people I work with."

Michael Collins says he was determined not to miss out

The relics have toured 14 venues this year in Ireland but Michael Collins, who is from an Irish Traveller family, missed out there and was determined to catch up with them in his adopted city.

"I've brought all of my family - it's incredible this is a young guy who lived in our times and he is going to be a saint," he said.

Joanna Lees brought all six of her children to the church

The Rt Rev Mark Davies, the Bishop of Shrewsbury who requested for the relics to come to Manchester, said Blessed Carlo spent his short life spreading the love of God.

He added: "An ordinary young man indistinguishable from his contemporaries in the way he dressed, the trainers he wore, the Nutella he liked (and recognised he liked too much!) and especially the internet he used."

Joanna Moretto said Blessed Carlo was inspiring her work with young people

Blessed Carlo was born on 3 May 1991 and moved to Italy with his Italian parents when he was three months old.

The teenager recorded purported miracles online and helped run websites for Catholic organisations, while also helping poor people and the homeless.

Carlo Acutis will be canonised next year according to the Vatican

He was beatified in Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, Assisi, Italy in 2020 in a Mass attended by his parents and twin siblings.

Organisers said a steady stream of people - more than 2,500 by the end of Saturday, crammed into the church.