A teenage computer science prodigy who died in 2006 is set to be given a sainthood in the Catholic Church. Carlo Acutis, who was born in London to Italian parents, is slated to be beatified by Pope Francis on10th October in Assisi Italy.

A devoted Catholic, Acutis was known for his practice of daily prayer and his documentation of Eucharistic miracles, alongside a love of modern IT programming. Owing to his fascination with modern technology, the late youngster is set to be known as the 'future patron of the internet'. 

The supernatural occurrence attributed to him ⁠- which has paved the way to his sainthood ⁠- involved a Brazilian boy being cured of a rare congenital disease after prayers were made for Carlo to intervene. As is customary for any individual being considered for canonization, two miracles must be attributed to the candidate and independently verified by a panel of experts. Hopefuls must also have been proved to exhibit 'heroic virtue' and be a committed 'servant of God'.

Last November, The Medical Council of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes gave a positive opinion of the miracle, and Pope Francis approved it in February. 

Acutis’ mother, Antonia Salzano, told CNA last year: “Jesus was the center of his day. Carlo really had Jesus in his heart, really the pureness. When you are really pure of heart, you really touch people’s hearts." 

Italian Catholic Archbishop, Domenico Sorrentino, said of the upcoming beatification: “The news constitutes a ray of light in this period in which our country is struggling with a difficult health, social and work situation. 

“In these recent months of solitude and distancing, we have been experiencing the most positive aspect of the internet - a communication technology for which Carlo had a special talent.

“The love of God can turn a great crisis into a great grace."