The canonization of the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis, is postponed after the pope's death

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The canonization of the archetypal millennial saint, Carlo Acutis, has been postponed owed to the decease Monday of Pope Francis, the Vatican announced.

Acutis was to beryllium canonized adjacent Sunday successful St. Peter's Square connected the juncture of the Jubilee solemnisation for adolescents.

In the months starring up to the expected canonization, the faithful person been flocking to Assisi, Italy, wherever his assemblage — wearing sneakers, jeans and a sweatshirt — lies successful a shrine. He was 15 erstwhile helium died successful bluish Italy successful 2006 aft a abbreviated bout with leukemia.

His roadworthy to sainthood, the canonization process, started much than 10 years agone astatine the inaugural of a radical of priests and friends, and formally took disconnected soon aft Pope Francis began his papacy successful 2013.

Acutis was named “venerable” successful 2018 aft the religion recognized his virtuous life, and his assemblage was taken to a shrine successful Assisi’s Santuario della Spogliazione, a large tract linked to St. Francis’ life.

He was past declared “blessed” successful 2020 aft the Vatican dicastery that studies sainthood processes recognized a miraculous healing done Acutis’ intercession — a kid successful Brazil who recovered successful a “scientifically inexplainable” manner.

Last year, the religion paved his mode to sainthood by attributing to him a 2nd occurrence — the implicit healing of a Costa Rican pupil successful Italy from large caput trauma successful a bicycle mishap aft her parent prayed astatine Acutis’ tomb.

Acutis utilized his machine savvy to make an online grounds astir much than 100 eucharistic miracles recognized by the religion implicit centuries, focused connected the existent beingness of Christ that Catholics judge is successful the consecrated breadstuff and wine. He besides taught catechism and did outreach to the homeless.

The Mass for adolescents, expected to pull tens of thousands of faithful, volition spell ahead. It is portion of a year-long solemnisation of the Holy Year inaugurated by Francis successful December, which the Vatican said was continuing, albeit with modifications.