The challenge of Saint Carlos: To love Jesus and know Him in the Eucharist

In the age of mass media, particularly with the influence and ubiquity of the internet, there have been several incredibly high-profile canonizations of new saints in recent years. These include Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Saint John Paul II, and Saint John Henry Newman. And this September, two young Italian saints: Saint Carlo Acutis and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Saint Carlo Acutis, in particular, has become a darling of the internet age, as he himself grew up using the internet and famously created a website to document Eucharistic miracles from around the world.

Ignatius Press recently published an updated edition of Courtney Mares’ book Carlo Acutis: A Saint in Sneakers (2025). This new edition brings the book in line with Carlo’s new status as a canonized saint of the Church–the first “millennial” to be canonized, as has been widely recognized and reported. Mares is a journalist based in Rome, currently a Rome Correspondent for Catholic News Agency and EWTN News.

Mares recently spoke with Catholic World Report about the updated edition of this book, the importance of the first millennial saint, and what we can learn from the example of Saint Carlo Acutis.

Catholic World Report: How did the book initially come about, and were there any big changes made for this new edition?

Courtney Mares: As a Vatican journalist, some of my favorite stories to report are those of men and women of heroic virtue who are at the very beginning of the long path toward being recognized as canonized saints in the Catholic Church. C. S. Lewis once wrote, “How monotonously alike all the great tyrants and conquerors have been; how gloriously different are the saints.” Carlo Acutis is a perfect example of that.

When I first encountered his story in 2018, I was struck by how unique he was: the Church had never canonized someone like Carlo before—a Millennial teenager who loved coding and video games, but who also had an extraordinary devotion to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. His path to holiness was also one that young people today can imitate.

By the time I reported on his beatification in Assisi, it was clear Carlo’s story had gone “viral.” Being based in Italy, I found myself in the perfect position to be able to travel to the places in Italy where he lived to tell it more fully.

This new edition of the book comes at the momentous occasion of his canonization during the Jubilee Year of Hope, alongside Pier Giorgio Frassati, by Pope Leo XIV—the first canonization of his pontificate. I’ve added new material on how Carlo’s example has inspired a wave of digital evangelization initiatives, as well as the story of the second miracle that led to his canonization.

One of the happiest updates is that the young woman who sought Carlo’s intercession during her cancer treatments, whose story opens the book, has since given birth to her first child, a son named Joseph Carlo, in honor of the saint.

CWR: How do you account for the profound devotion so many people already feel for Carlo? Why do so many people feel so connected to him?

Mares: During the Jubilee of Youth, when one million young people gathered in Rome, I asked pilgrims why they felt such a strong connection to Carlo. Many pointed to his relatability: he was a fellow digital native who can intercede for them as they navigate the challenges of smartphones, social media, and now AI.

Others connected with him because, like many Millennials, he was born into a family that wasn’t practicing the faith—and yet he helped lead his own parents back to it.

But the deepest reason people connect with him, I think, is because of the graces they experience when they try to follow his example. I met a young man who told me that after hearing Carlo’s story, he began going to daily Mass for the first time in his life. Carlo challenges us to put Christ first in daily life, to seek out the sacraments, and to pursue holiness in our everyday choices. For instance, he limited his time playing video games so he could spend more time face-to-face with others. Carlo died suddenly and very young, but he had already lived his life in a way that he was ready to go to God.

CWR: When it comes to Carlo Acutis, a great deal of focus is given to the role that tech played in his life—the internet, video games, etc. Do you think this is overstated? And does it risk overshadowing other beautiful aspects of his saintly life?

Mares: It is natural that people are drawn to this aspect of his life—after all, he will be the first computer-coding saint. But it is important to be clear: Carlo isn’t being canonized because of his tech skills, or because the Church wants to appeal to young people with a Millennial who liked video games. He’s being canonized because he lived a life of heroic virtue—marked by goodness, purity, humility, joy, and deep faith.

What truly stands out is his unwavering belief in heaven as his ultimate goal, his love for the Eucharist, and the courage with which he offered up his suffering from cancer. These are some of the qualities that make him a model for holiness in the 21st century.

In the book, I also document lesser-known aspects of his life: how his witness led adults to convert and be baptized, his care and concern for the homeless, and how he defended the faith in the classroom and in conversations with his peers, even when it wasn’t easy. And I cannot fail to mention that Carlo’s intercession from heaven has led to two documented miraculous healings in the 21st century that have been recognized as having no other possible medical explanation.

CWR: Having written the book and spoken so much about Carlo over the last few years, how did you react to the news of his impending canonization? And to the news of the canonization’s delay (due to the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo)?

Mares: I was overjoyed when I first heard. Carlo’s cause moved forward faster than I expected: just two years after his beatification, a second medical miracle attributed to his intercession occurred—the healing of a 21-year-old girl who had suffered a severe head injury in a bike accident. That is an extraordinary sign of God’s will for Carlo to be canonized at this time in history.

The delay was a bit of a shock. The death of Pope Francis came just days before Carlo’s canonization was scheduled, and many pilgrims had already traveled to Rome from the United States and as far away as Australia. Standing in St. Peter’s Square with tens of thousands of Carlo’s devotees, praying during the pope’s funeral instead of at the canonization Mass, was deeply moving. It was also a reminder that God’s plans are greater than our own.

CWR: In some ways, might it be a blessing that Carlo and Pier Giorgio Frassati were canonized together?

Mares: I believe it’s providential. Both young men share striking similarities: Eucharistic devotion, love for the Blessed Virgin, care for the poor, a joy for life, and even a love of animals. Both died young of sudden illnesses, and both have become patrons of young people. And Carlo was actually inspired by Pier Giorgio’s story.

It’s a great gift that they were canonized together as the first saints of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. I am eager to see what lessons the pope draws from their lives for the Church today.

CWR: What do you hope will be the fruit of Carlo’s canonization?

Mares: In his short life, Carlo deeply desired to awaken others to the reality that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, even creating an exhibit on Eucharistic miracles that continues to travel the world. My hope is that his canonization will inspire many more people to encounter Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. But ultimately, the fruits are in God’s hands—and I’m sure they will be greater than anything I could imagine.

CWR: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Mares: One of Carlo’s most important lessons for young people is this: true happiness doesn’t come from being “the best” in the world’s eyes. Today’s youth face enormous pressure to compete—who’s the most popular, the best at sports, the smartest, the most liked on social media.

But Carlo understood early on that lasting joy comes from God’s love and from serving others. He befriended classmates who were isolated, comforted friends going through family struggles, brought food to the homeless, and spoke about Jesus to those who didn’t know him.

And he used his talents—in particular, his love of technology—not for himself, but to bring others closer to Christ. That is why he continues to resonate so strongly as an example for young people today.