Carlo Acutis, the gamer dubbed “God’s influencer” who loved Halo, has been canonised by the Catholic Church as a saint.
The Catholic Church has canonised its first gamer saint, teenager Carlo Acutis who loved Halo and became known as “God’s influencer” for spreading the gospel online.
Acutis died in 2006 at the age of 15 from leukaemia, but in his short life he dedicated himself to helping the poor and using the internet to share his faith. Pope Leo led the canonisation ceremony in St Peter’s Square, Vatican City, formally declaring Acutis a saint after a remarkably swift path through the process.
The campaign for his sainthood began in 2012, just six years after his death. By 2018 he had been recognised as “Venerable,” was declared “Blessed” in 2020, and now joins the canon of saints.
Acutis was born in London, but his Italian parents soon returned to Milan, where he grew up. His family recall him playing Halo, Mario, and Pokémon. He received his first PlayStation at the age of eight but imposed a strict rule of only one hour of gaming per day.
Beyond video games, Acutis was described as unusually compassionate from an early age. By nine, he was helping the homeless and insisted on owning just one pair of shoes, giving money saved to those in need.
Two miracles attributed to Acutis paved the way for his sainthood. He was first beatified after it was claimed he was involved the healing of a Brazilian boy with a pancreatic defect when his mother prayed to Acutis in 2013. The second, recognised earlier this year, concerned a Costa Rican girl who made a full recovery from a traumatic head injury after her mother prayed at Acutis’ tomb in Assisi.
He also created a website documenting miracles, earning him the nickname “God’s influencer.” His modern-day appeal has resonated with younger Catholics. “The fact that you can think of a saint doing the same things [as you], wearing jeans, it feels so much closer,” Diego Sarkissian told the BBC.
Acutis’ tomb in Assisi has already become a pilgrimage site. Following his canonisation, the Church has established a feast day in his name, and parishes and schools can now be dedicated to him.
