
My Blessed Boy: the Millennial Saint
The Italian teenager who has become the world's first Millennial Saint
How does a seemingly ordinary boy prove to be so extraordinary that he's given a halo by the Catholic Church? Saint Carlo Acutis was just 15 years old when he died in 2006.
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s William Crawley travels through Italy, for Heart and Soul, to the places most associated with the young Carlo, to discover for himself what set this teenager apart from the rest.
In Assisi, William meets Carlo's mother Antonia Salzano Acutis, who reveals how her son, a devotee of St. Francis of Assisi, showed an unusual generosity for a teenager. He visits Carlo's tomb, whose remains are dressed in jeans, sweatshirt and trainers. And Domenico Sorrentino, Bishop of Assisi, explains to William how he sees a connection between St. Francis and Carlo, as a bridge from the past to the present.
At Carlo's old school in Milan, Istituto Leone X111, his former Professor, Fabrizio Zaggia, recalls Carlo's curious mind. Whilst contemporary students explain how relatable they find this Saint who designed websites.
But is it all too convenient for the Catholic Church in this Jubilee year to find a saint that appeals to this younger generation? William ponders over this in Rome with John Allen, Editor of Crux, the online Catholic newspaper, before heading off to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, where Monsignor Alberto Royo explains the investigation into Carlo's life to see if it was one of 'heroic virtue'.
On radio
Broadcasts
- Fri 12 Sep 2025 03:32GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service
- Fri 12 Sep 2025 17:32GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Fri 12 Sep 2025 21:32GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa
- Sun 14 Sep 2025 15:32GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service News Internet
Podcast
-
Heart and Soul
Personal approaches to religious belief from around the world.