The First Saint Gamer in History: Vatican Canonizes Fan of Halo and Super Mario

An unusual canonization took place today in Vatican City: for the first time in history, the title of saint was given to an ordinary gamer. A teenager from Italy became famous among Catholics for his deeds and was canonized by the Church after his death.

According to Catholic Review, Carlo Acutis from Milan was known for his devotion to religion from an early age, volunteer work, helping the homeless, and teaching catechism. He also created websites dedicated to Catholicism and saints, earning the nickname “God’s Influencer.” In his free time, he enjoyed video games — Halo, Super Mario Bros., and the Pokémon series were his favorites.

Sadly, in 2006, Carlo died of leukemia at the age of 15. According to the Church, two cases of miraculous healing were documented after believers prayed to Carlo Acutis, fulfilling a required condition for sainthood in the Catholic tradition.

Years later, Carlo was declared Venerable, and in 2020 he was beatified by Pope Francis. The gamer’s canonization took place today during Holy Mass at the Vatican, conducted by Pope Leo XIV. He will now have his own feast day, and parishes and schools will be able to take the name of the gamer-saint.