Thousands of the faithful gathered in Rome on Sept. 7 as Pope Leo XIV declared Blesseds Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati saints in the Catholic Church.
Our Bishops of Orange shared a message for this momentous event:
“Today, the Holy Father declared Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati saints of the Church. Though their lives were short, their witness shines brightly – Carlo, a millennial who harnessed technology to share his love for the Eucharist, and Pier Giorgio, whose deep faith moved him to serve the poor and stand for justice with humility and joy. These two remarkable young men, though separated by nearly a century, embody for us what it means to live the Gospel with joy, courage and conviction. Saints Carlo and Pier Giorgio, pray for us.”
A portrait of Blessed Carlo Acutis is displayed at the Church of San Marcello al Corso in Rome, where his relics are venerated July 31, 2025, during the Jubilee of Youth, ahead of his Sept. 7 canonization. CNS photo/Lola Gomez
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, an Italian who was a struggling student and who excelled in mountain climbing, is seen in an undated photo. He had complete faith in God and persevered through college, dedicating himself to helping the poor and supporting church social teaching. He died at age 24 and was beatified by St. John Paul II in 1990. Blessed Frassaiti will be canonized Sept. 7, 2025, along with Blessed Carlo Acutis. OSV News file photo