When Pope Leo XIV stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, his choice of name stirred curiosity and admiration. But perhaps few expected the fascinating link that would soon surface — one that weaves together the life of the newly elected pontiff and the Church’s beloved digital-age saint-in-the-making, Blessed Carlo Acutis.
In a recent episode of his podcast, Fr. David Michael Moses — a priest of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston known for his accessible teachings and deep spiritual insight that he shares on social media — uncovered a providential connection that has captivated the Catholic imagination.
Blessed Carlo was supposed to be canonized on April 27, however Pope Francis' death interrupted that plan and a new date has not been announced. Some expect that Carlo might be canonized together with Pier Giorgi Frassati in the summer.
“His canonization is going to be a huge deal in the life of the Church, and especially in Pope Leo XIV’s papacy,” Fr. David Michael explains in his podcast, referring to the anticipated canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis. “I would imagine this would be the first saint he's going to canonize as pope.”
It’s a beautiful thought: the first canonized saint of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate could very well be the first millennial beatified by the Church — a teenager whose love of the Eucharist and skill with computers made holiness feel both radiant and accessible.
But that’s only the beginning.
While preparing notes for his podcast, Fr. David Michael stumbled across a striking detail: the high school Carlo Acutis attended in Milan was called the Leo XIII Institute — named, of course, after the 19th-century pope known for his intellect and social teachings.
“What are the chances that the school he's attending when he dies was named after Pope Leo XIII, the predecessor of our new Pope Leo XIV, the pope that Leo XIV says inspired him to choose the name? What are the chances? How cool is that?”
A nod to the past and present
There’s a poetic continuity in that lineage — Leo XIII, the pope of modern Catholic thought, now echoed in Leo XIV, whose own vision for the Church is just beginning. And between them stands a young saint who offered his life with remarkable clarity.
“If that wasn't enough, listen to this quote from Blessed Carlo Acutis,” Fr. David Michael continues. “He says this: ‘I offer all the suffering I will have to suffer for the Lord, for the Pope, and for the Church.’”
It's a quote that seems even more prophetic now, as we await the moment the Church declares Carlo a saint.
“Blessed Carlo, the first millennial saint about to be canonized, offered his suffering in large part for the pope,” Fr. David Michael reflects. “And now we have a pope who chooses the name of Blessed Carlo's high school patron.”
There’s something mysteriously tender in that — a divine thread, perhaps, tying together generations, papacies, and saints in-the-making. It invites us to see the Church not merely as an institution, but as a living, breathing body led by grace.
You can watch more about the subject in Fr. David Michael's video below:
