Teen Carlo Acutis beatified in Italy

Teenager Carlo Acutis has been beatified by the Catholic Church on Saturday in Assisi, Italy and is now called Blessed.

Before a Mass was held for Acutis' beatification, faithful Catholics on Saturday visited his tomb at the Sanctuary of the Spoliation in Assisi where his body was shown to be "not incorrupt." The public veneration will be held until October 17.

Cardinal Agostini Vallini celebrated the Mass for the beatification process at the Basilica of San Francesco, which was attended by Acutis' parents, Reuters reported. 

Around 3,000 people also went to the basilica, with some of them watching the Mass from large screens posted outside the church.

Monsignor Domenico Sorrentino, bishop of Assisi, formally formulated the request for beatification to Cardinal Vallini during the Mass.

According to a report of the Catholic News Agency posted by CBCP News, Pope Francis' apostolic letter was read aloud during the Mass. The said letter declared Oct. 12 as Acutis' feast day every year.

Cardinal Vallini also took incense to bless the reliquary containing the heart of Blessed Carlo Acutis.

Born in Britain, the Italian teenager dedicated his short life to spreading the faith online and helping the poor.

Acutis used his computer skills for the Church, researching Eucharistic miracles and creating a website to share the information he has gathered.

He died on October 12, 2006 due to leukemia at the age of 15.

In February this year, the Vatican announced Pope Francis has approved a miracle attributed to Acutis’ intercession.

The miracle involved a Brazilian child with a rare congenital anatomic anomaly of the pancreas who was reportedly healed in 2013.

This paved the way for Acutis’ beatification.

A second miracle would be needed for his sainthood. —KG, GMA News