The Catholic Church canonized the Italian teenager Carlo Akutis who passed away in 2006. Now he has every chance of becoming a new saint, writes the BBC.
During his lifetime, the young man learned to program and created an online database of Eucharistic miracles. The people have already nicknamed him “the patron saint of the Internet.” The Vatican believes that a person who died of leukemia can become an example for his peers. “Despite the efforts made, it is not easy for young people these days to get interested in the ministry. But sometimes God shows us the way with the help of such beacons as Carlo was, ”said the representative of the Catholic Church, Enzo Fortunato, in an interview with AFP.
Many believe that 15-year-old Akutis works miracles after death. In particular, the deceased was noticed after in 2013, thanks to him, a Brazilian boy who suffered from a rare congenital anomaly of the pancreas was allegedly cured. The event at the Vatican was considered a miracle, it allowed for the beatification. Akutis's mother said that her son did not differ from his peers in terms of his hobbies, but he always helped his neighbors, even if it was about the homeless and disadvantaged.
The process of canonization in the Catholic Church consists of two stages – beatification and canonization. First, the candidate becomes one of the blessed, then the question of his recognition as a saint is raised. As part of the first stage, the Vatican is given a kind of dossier on a person, which describes the facts indicating that he was distinguished by righteousness during his life, and after death he worked miracles. After analyzing the stated positions, the candidacy is discussed in the Congregation for Saints. If this body comes to the conclusion that all miracles are genuine, the Pope signs the corresponding official act, and the person becomes one of the blessed. Canonization is a similar procedure in which an applicant is analyzed by representatives of the Congregation of Rites.
In November 2014, two Indians and four Italians were canonized at the Vatican. Bishop of Vicenza Giovanni Antonio Farina, monks Ludovico de Casoria and Nicola da Longobardi, layman Amato Ronconi, priest Curiacos Elias Shavara and nun Euphrasia Eluvatingal were numbered among the saints.
