Young people gather to celebrate canonisation of first millennial saint

Carlo Acutis has become the first ever millennial saint

Hundreds of young people have gathered in Londonderry to celebrate the canonisation of a teenager nicknamed "God's influencer".

Carlo Acutis, who died of leukaemia in 2006 at the age of 15, is the first millennial - a person born in the early 1980s to late 1990s - to be made a saint by the Catholic church.

The London-born teenager has also been labelled "the patron saint of the internet" for his work recording miracles online and running websites for Catholic organisations.

Events celebrating his canonisation took place across the world today, including in St Eugene's Cathedral in Londonderry.

Carlo Acutis was beatified - the first step towards sainthood - in 2020, after he was attributed with his first miracle - healing a Brazilian child of a congenital disease affecting his pancreas.

Pope Francis cleared the way for Carlo Acutis to be made a saint by attributing a second miracle to him in May, 2024.

His canonisation had been due in late April, but was postponed following the death of Pope Francis.

Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on City Quay in Dublin and Saint Eugene's Cathedral in Derry held a number of events and Masses on Sunday.

An 'inspiration' for young people

As well as a Mass on Sunday evening, St Eugene's held a special screening of a short film celebrating Carlo Acutis' life.

St Eugene's has a specially commissioned statue of the teenage saint, along with a lock of his hair which is venerated as a holy relic.

The Bishop of Derry Dr Donal McKeown said that a group of young people calling themselves the Youth of Acutis was founded in the city about 12 months ago to carry on Carlo's legacy, showing the lasting impression he has made on people there.

Speaking of the events on Sunday he said: "It is a chance for people to gather, celebrate positivity, and look forward in hope."

Lizzie Rea says Carlo Acutis is an inspiration for young people

Lizzie Rea is a youth director for the Diocese of Derry.

She said she uses Carlo Acutis as an inspiration for young people in the church.

"When I am talking to someone about how to live their life or how they get to know Jesus, he is a great example of how to do that," she said.

Ms Rea continued: "He isn't a Saint that is so far apart from them as he used the technology that they are aware of.

"Having somebody like him and his story, especially about how much he suffered even with modern medicine and that type of thing.

"The fact that he gave that suffering to Jesus is something miraculous."

Caitlin Taylor, Ann-Marie Hickey and Evie Doherty attended the events at St Eugene's

Caitlin Taylor and Evie Doherty were among the young people who attended the events and the Mass at St Eugene's on Sunday.

They told BBC News NI "he was a good example" and said it was "amazing that we have the opportunity to have this in our parish".

Anne-Marie Hickey, the pastoral care co-ordinator at Templemore Parish, said she encourages the young people to pray to Carlo Acutis and to "live like he did".

Finbar Madden, a former school principal, said the canonisation of Carlo Acutis has had a big impact on young people as they can identify with him.

"He lived in our recent past, did the things that they did and is more identifiable than saints in the past," he said.

St Eugene's Cathedral in Londonderry commissioned a statue of Carlo Acutis

The Bishop of Derry, Dr Donal McKeown, said Carlo's connection to the city is a very interesting one.

"The statue is a real attraction both for young people and their families," Bishop McKeown said.

"Fr Paul Farren contacted Carlo Acutis' mother when his name became well known, and she gave a few strands of his hair to become a relic.

"That came directly from his mother; she may have cut the hair off herself – I have no idea.

"Then, a couple of years ago, someone suggested we get a statue. Money was raised, and one was commissioned in Italy and manufactured for us."

"We are very happy with the response to the figure of Carlo because it can inspire young people to believe their lives can be worthwhile."

What is canonisation?

Canonisation is the final step in declaring a deceased person a saint.

To reach this stage, two verified miracles normally need to be attributed to prayers made to the candidate after they have been beatified.

Pope Francis attributed two miracles to Carlo Acutis and so the test was passed.