A sunny morning, a packed St. Peter’s Square with more than 80,000 faithful, and a solemn celebration paid tribute today to two young laymen who, by their example of faith and dedication, invited everyone not to waste life, but to direct it upward. During the Mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV, Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis – the first Saint millennias – were canonized, figures emblematic of a spirituality that is simple, authentic and accessible to all.
Un messaggio di amore e semplicità
The homily opened with a message of joy and hope, addressed especially to young people: “Today is a beautiful feast,” the Pope said, inviting those present to keep the example of Frassati and Acutis in their hearts. “All of you, all of us, are called to be saints,” he added, reminding that holiness is not reserved for the few, but is accessible to all through simple and authentic gestures.
In his homily, the Pope emphasized how the two new saints embody a “being in love with Jesus” and an unceasing desire to “give everything for Him.” In words full of emotion, Leo XIV pointed out that holiness does not require extraordinary or complicated means, but can be cultivated through “simple means, within everyone’s reach”: daily prayer, love for the poor, Eucharistic adoration, concrete gestures of charity.
The Pope also addressed the theme of “a crossroads in life” that opens before every young person: the risk of letting time slip by, of living without a true goal. The answer, according to the Pontiff, is an “adventure” that calls one to throw oneself “without hesitation,” to strip oneself of one’s convictions and of the things that hold us captive, raising one’s eyes to heaven and walking “to meet the Lord, in the eternal feast of Heaven.”
Le vite di San Pier Giorgio Frassati e San Carlo Acutis, testimonianze di fede viva
Among the most touching moments of the ceremony was the narration of the lives of the two young men. St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, born in Turin, is remembered for his commitment to schools, church associations and charity work. A lover of sports, prayer and community life, he enthusiastically devoted himself to helping the poor on the streets of Turin, carrying out his faith with concrete actions. His affectionate nickname, “Frassati Impresa Trasporti,” testifies to his practical and generous spirit.
St. Charles Acutis, born in Milan, became an example of digital faith and love for the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Raised in a devout family, he integrated prayer, study and charity into his daily life, emphasizing that “in front of the sun we get tanned, in front of the Eucharist we become saints.” His testimony is based on the simplicity of daily actions, such as the simple movement of the eyes turned toward God, and the conviction that “conversion is moving the gaze from above to oneself.”
Testimoni di una santità “della porta accanto”
Both young men lived God’s love by “simple means,” testifying how holiness can come from everyday life, commitment to one’s environment and caring for the weakest. Pier Giorgio wrote, “Around the poor and the sick I see a light that we do not have,” while Charles recalled that “the day of death will be the most beautiful day of life.” Their lives, as well as their deaths, were seen as an “upward journey,” a path that invites everyone not to waste their existence, but to make it a masterpiece.
Un invito rivolto ai giovani
The Pope concluded the celebration with a strong invitation to young people: “Do not waste your life,” he said, “orient it upward and make it a masterpiece.” Holiness, he stressed, often stems from a “yes” pronounced in youth, like that of St. Augustine or St. Francis of Assisi, who chose to follow Christ with a free and generous heart.
Un messaggio di speranza e di testimonianza
The canonization of Frassati and Acutis stands as a great example of how faith can be lived with simplicity, courage and joy. They are figures whose example calls everyone to rediscover the value of the daily “yes,” of small acts of charity and unconditional love. As Leo XIV reminded us, Heaven is always waiting for us, and to love tomorrow means to give our best today, to meet the Lord in the eternal feast of Heaven.
The event, broadcast live and watched by thousands of faithful around the world, concluded with the request for the drafting of apostolic letters on their canonization, leaving a message of hope and living witness for future generations.
The article Frassati and Acutis, Pope Leo XIV’s first saints to address young people: ‘Don’t waste your lives’ comes from TheNewyorker.
