The newest saint formally recognized by the Catholic Church is Blessed Carlo Acutis, whose canonization was officially decreed by Pope Francis on July 10, 2024.
Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager known for his profound faith and pioneering use of the internet to spread the teachings of the Catholic Church, passed away from leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15. Often referred to as "God's influencer," his life and spiritual contributions have garnered significant attention, leading to his beatification in 2020 and now his formal declaration as a saint.
Canonizations are solemn declarations by the Pope that a deceased person is a saint and worthy of public veneration throughout the Universal Church. These declarations often occur during formal ceremonies, although in some cases, an "equivalent canonization" may take place where a long-standing cult of veneration is confirmed by papal decree without a full formal ceremony.
Among other individuals recently canonized by Pope Francis, Saint Margherita della Metola was declared a saint on April 24, 2021. Margherita della Metola was a Dominican tertiary from the 13th and 14th centuries, revered for her profound spirituality, charitable works, and enduring faith despite physical disabilities. Her canonization by Pope Francis was an equivalent canonization, acknowledging centuries of popular devotion.
The most recent large-scale canonization ceremony conducted by Pope Francis occurred on May 15, 2022, where ten new saints were formally canonized. These included diverse figures such as Blessed Charles de Foucauld, a French explorer and hermit, and Blessed Devasahayam Pillai, the first lay person from India to be canonized.
