A teenager known as “God’s influencer” who loved video games and spread the gospel online has been canonized as a saint. Carlos Acutis died in 2006 at 15 years of age from leukemia, but dedicated his short life to spreading awareness of the Catholic faith and helping the poor.

Acutis was canonized in an ancient ritual led by Pope Leo XIV, who himself has a good shout to be the first gaming Pope. The teenager’s path to sainthood has been remarkably short: the campaign to have him canonized began six years after his death in 2012; he was decreed “Venerable” in 2018, “Blessed” in 2020, and now the Pope has formally declared Acutis a saint in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

Born in London, Acutis was still a baby when his Italian parents returned home, and he would spend the rest of his life in Milan. Acutis’ family recalls him enjoying video games including, of course, Halo, as well as the likes of Mario and Pokémon. He got a PlayStation when he was eight but, as a true servant of the Lord, restricted himself to one hour of play a day.

Acutis also created a popular website documenting miracles as a means of spreading the Catholic message, which is what led to the nickname of “God’s influencer.” There is perhaps a sense that Acutis has been fast-tracked to sainthood due to his appeal to younger people and association with things like the internet and video games.

As I did, you too can become holy, Acutis’ mother, Antonia Salzano, expressed. “Nevertheless, (with) all the media, the technologies, it seems sometimes that holiness is something that belongs to the past. Instead, holiness is also something nowadays in this modern time.”

Acutis’ tomb in Assisi, where his body lies preserved in wax, is now established as a pilgrimage site. Following his canonization, the Catholic Church will remember Acutis annually on a feast day, and parishes and schools can be named after him.