Pope Francis has announced the canonisation in 2024 of two young Catholics, Italian student leader, Pier Giorgio Frassati, and Carlo Acutis, a teenage digital technology devotee.
The canonisation of Carlo Acutis will take place during the Church’s Jubilee of Teenagers, scheduled from April 25–27, 2025 while Pier Giorgio Frassati’s canonization will follow later, during the Jubilee of Youth from July 28 to August 3, 2025.
Pier Giorgio Frassati
Born in Turin in 1901, Pier Giorgio Frassati, exemplified a life of service, adventure, and profound spirituality. Known for his passion for mountaineering and his dedication to the poor, Frassati was a third-order Dominican who lived his faith with quiet intensity and joy.
At just 17, he joined the St Vincent de Paul Society, dedicating himself to aiding the homeless, the sick, and war veterans.
He was an active member of the Italian Catholic Student Movement (FUCI), which was and still is a part of the Italian Catholic Action movement.
He also belonged to the Apostleship of Prayer, and was granted permission to receive daily Communion—a rare privilege at the time.
Pier Giorgio’s adventurous spirit often led him to the mountains, where he found both physical challenge and spiritual inspiration. On a photograph of one of his final climbs, he wrote the phrase “Verso l’Alto” (“To the Heights”), a motto that symbolized his striving for spiritual and eternal glory.
His life of service ended tragically at the age of 24 when he succumbed to polio, likely contracted while caring for the sick.
Commenting on Facebook, Pax Romana IMCS leaders noted that “Frassati’s legacy of faith, service, and social justice continues to inspire Catholic youth worldwide to live out their faith in action, embodying the mission of Pax Romana!”
In 1938, YCW founder, Mgr (later Cardinal) Joseph Cardijn wrote to Pope Pius XI calling for Pier Giorgio’s canonisation.
Carlo Acutis
Born in 1991 in Italy, Carlo Acutis has become a beacon of faith for the millennial generation.
Known for his love of technology and devotion to the Eucharist, he was beatified in 2020, just 14 years after his untimely death from leukemia at the age of 15.
From an early age, Carlo displayed a profound spirituality. After receiving his First Communion at age seven, he made a resolution to stay close to Jesus, attending daily Mass whenever possible.
He famously described the Eucharist as his “highway to heaven,” a devotion that became a hallmark of his faith and inspired countless others.
Carlo combined his spiritual zeal with a passion for technology, creating a groundbreaking online exhibition on Eucharistic miracles.
Pope Francis has frequently encouraged young people to look to Carlo Acutis as an example of prioritizing the Eucharist and living a Christ-centered life in today’s digital world.
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Canonisations set for Carlos Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati in 2025 (Radio Veritas Asia)
Letter from Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli to Cardijn, 27 February 1938 (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)