Santi e Beati
Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati: two saints for our time
Editrice Shalom
Tempo di lettura: 3 min
Autore: Editrice Shalom
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Today, at 10:00 a.m., in St. Peterβs Square, Pope Leo XIV will preside over the solemn Eucharistic Celebration with the rite of canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati. An event awaited by the faithful from around the world, taking place at the heart of the Jubilee and representing a powerful sign of the vitality of the Church and its attention to younger generations.
Frassatiβs relics, transferred from Turin to Rome on July 26, were venerated in the Basilica of Saint Mary above Minerva until August 4, in a spiritual pilgrimage that involved thousands of young people.
Two lives, one holiness
Carlo Acutis (1991β2006), born in London and raised in Milan, was a teenager passionate about computer science and deeply in love with the Eucharist. His online exhibition on Eucharistic miracles reached every corner of the world. Carlo lived his faith with simplicity and radical commitment, showing that holiness is possible even in the everyday life of a 21st-century boy.
Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901β1925), from Turin, an engineering student, mountaineer, and Dominican tertiary, embodied the Beatitudes through a life devoted to the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. His spirituality was practical, expressed through silent gestures and active charity. His motto, βToward the heights,β became a symbol of a faith that is never satisfied, one that seeks God in beauty and hardship.
A bridge between generations
Acutis and Frassati represent two responses to the crisis of intergenerational dialogue. Although immersed in the digital world, Carlo was able to rediscover the roots of Christian tradition, making them accessible and appealing to his peers. Frassati, on the other hand, showed how faith can be translated into social commitment, closeness, and care for others.
Both teach us that holiness is not an escape, but an immersion in reality, lived through Christ's eyes.
The holiness of the next-door neighbor
The canonization of Carlo Acutis reflects Pope Francis's vision of the βholiness of the next-door neighbor,β lived out in everyday life, amid school, family, and friends. It is a powerful message for young people: you do not need to be heroes to be saints, but to live with authenticity, love, and faith.
Pier Giorgio Frassati, on the other hand, is the saint of commitment, justice, and solidarity. His life is an invitation not to remain indifferent, but to take responsibility for the world's vulnerabilities.
For us at Editrice Shalom, the canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati is a moment of profound joy and renewed responsibility. These two young saints speak to us in different yet complementary ways: through the language of technology and that of charity, the language of contemplation and that of action.
In our publishing work, we strive every day to offer resources that help people live their faith with authenticity and depth. The witness of Carlo and Pier Giorgio encourages us to continue along this path, offering content that speaks to the heart, illuminates the way, and accompanies the search for God.
Holiness is not a privilege for a few, but a calling for everyone. And today, more than ever, we need saints to remind us that the Gospel is alive, that faith is joy, and that love is possible.
