Pilgrims arrive for the canonization Mass of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Relic of the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint stolen from Venezuelan parish
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) 鈥 A relic of Carlo Acutis, who was declared the Catholic Church鈥檚 first millennial saint last week, was stolen from a parish in western Venezuela, the coordinator of a youth group devoted to the man known as 鈥淕od鈥檚 Influencer鈥 confirmed Friday.
Pilgrims arrive for the canonization Mass of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) 鈥 A relic of Carlo Acutis, who was declared the Catholic Church鈥檚 first millennial saint last week, was stolen from a parish in western Venezuela, the coordinator of a youth group devoted to the man known as 鈥淕od鈥檚 Influencer鈥 confirmed Friday.
The disappearance of the relic - a small, circular piece of cloth - was reported on Sept. 9 by staff at the Santo Domingo de Guzm谩n parish in Cardenal Quintero municipality in M茅rida state, said Adri谩n Garc铆a, coordinator of the San Carlo Acutis Youth Group.
鈥淪o far, there鈥檚 no information; it鈥檚 still missing,鈥 Garc铆a said Friday. 鈥淲e have faith in God that it will appear. It has great spiritual value.鈥
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The relic, which was housed in a glass reliquary, disappeared just two days after Pope Leo XIV declared Acutis a saint. The 15-year-old computer expert, who used technology to spread the faith, is considered a role model for the next generation of Catholics.
The cloth is a 鈥渢hird-degree relic,鈥 which are usually objects that have been touched by the saint.
Police are investigating its disappearance, the parish said.
The Catholic Church has of Carlo Acutis’ relics.
Acutis was named 鈥渧enerable鈥 in 2018. He was then declared 鈥渂lessed鈥 in 2020 after the Vatican鈥檚 saint-making office declared that a child in Brazil who recovered from a pancreatic deformation was 鈥渟cientifically inexplicable鈥 and a miracle attributed to Acutis鈥 intercession.
Leo canonized Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006, on Sept. 7 during an open-air Mass in St. Peter鈥檚 Square before .
Acutis was born on May 3, 1991, in London to a wealthy family who moved back to Milan, Italy. He earned the nickname 鈥淕od鈥檚 Influencer,鈥 thanks to his main tech legacy: a multilingual website documenting so-called Eucharistic miracles recognized by the church.
It is common for relics to be sent to churches in various countries. In this case, the Venezuelan youth group had requested the relic when Acutis was declared blessed, a step prior to sainthood.
