Brazilian Catholic Priest on Visit to Angola with Relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis Says “Holiness possible for everyone”

“What I brought to the young people of Angola and to youth worldwide is the clear message that it is necessary to have a life project, goals, and a path that leads to an encounter with God. Carlo Acutis is living proof that this is possible and urgent.”

The Parish Priest of Our Lady of Remedies Ladário Parish of Brazil’s Catholic Diocese of Corumbá noted that “even as a young person, Carlo Acutis left a powerful legacy. He is the Saint of the Eucharist, a young man who, from age seven when he made his first Communion, established his life project: always be with Jesus. For him, the Eucharist was the road to heaven.”

“He teaches us that holiness is a call for everyone, not an exclusive privilege. It is a call for everyday life, for ordinary life, which can be lived by anyone,” Fr. Vieira told ACI Africa.

The 52-year-old Brazilian Catholic Priest said his mission goes beyond promoting Blessed Acutis, aiming to provoke a deep change in young people’s mindset amid today’s challenges. 

“In Angola, as in many other places, young people face many difficulties, from social pressures to the influence of values contrary to the Christian faith. It is important to show them that it is possible to live the faith fully and that holiness is within reach. Carlo’s example is very contemporary, because he also used modern technologies and the internet to evangelize and transform lives,” he said.

Fr. Vieira said that this mission has seen him visit multiple countries, emphasizing that his work with Carlo Acutis extends beyond Brazil. 

“After Angola, I will go to Italy for the canonization, which will be a historic moment, and then to Ireland, where I will continue spreading Carlo’s message of holiness. I have visited many countries in recent years, including Argentina, always bringing the message that being holy is possible and necessary,” he said.

In the August 25 interview, the Brazilian Catholic Priest went on to share his personal experience with Blessed Acutis.

“I have known Carlo’s family since 2011, had the grace to live with them for a year, and have been the family’s Spiritual Director since 2020. This closeness allowed me to know Carlo’s life and spirit,” he said.

Fr. Vieira continued, “Although I never met Carlo personally, as he died in 2006, I could learn about his story and legacy through his family, who live intensely the charism he left behind.”

Reflecting on Angola’s youths, Fr. Vieira expressed his awareness of socio-economic challenges. 

“In Angola, as in many African countries, young people face great difficulties — poverty, violence, lack of opportunities, impatience, and the temptation of unrestrained consumerism. Recently, we saw unrest and looting caused by impatient youths. That is why it is urgent to bring a message of hope and life project. Carlo Acutis shows that even amid difficulties, it is possible to choose good, holiness, and true happiness in God,” he said.

Fr. Vieira noted that Blessed Acutis can be a model for all young people, including those in complex contexts like Angola. 

“His example, using the internet to evangelize and show the beauty of faith, can inspire young people to rethink their use of social media, not to be slaves to it, but to use it for good and to build a better, more just world,” he said.

Fr. Vieira expressed hope for the impact of his mission to Angola, saying, “I hope that, through encountering Blessed Acutis’ life, Angolan youth will awaken to a greater life project, a path that leads to God and transforms them inwardly. I believe this experience can help many reflect on their role in the world and the Church.”

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Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 at age 15, is to become the first millennial to be declared a Saint by the Catholic Church.

Acutis’ canonization had originally been scheduled for April 27 during the Vatican’s Jubilee of Teenagers. That ceremony was postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.

Despite the change, thousands of young pilgrims from around the world who had travelled to Rome for Acutis’ canonization attended the late Pope’s funeral and the jubilee Mass, which drew an estimated 200,000 people.

Acutis, an Italian computer-coding teenager, is known for his great devotion to the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

He became the first millennial to be beatified by the Catholic Church 2020 and is widely popular among Catholics, particularly youth. Known for his deep faith and digital savvy, he used his computer-coding skills to draw attention to Eucharistic miracles around the world.

His miracles’ exhibit, featuring more than 100 documented miracles involving the Eucharist throughout history, has since travelled to thousands of parishes across five continents.

The Vatican formally recognized a second miracle attributed to Acutis’ intercession on 23 May 2024. The case involved the healing of 21-year-old Valeria Valverde of Costa Rica, who sustained a serious brain injury in a bicycle accident while studying in Florence in 2022. She was not expected to survive but recovered after her mother prayed for Acutis’ intercession at his tomb in Assisi.

Born in London in 1991 and raised in Milan, Acutis attended daily Mass from a young age and was passionate about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Shortly after his first Communion at the age of 7, Carlo told his mother: “To always be united to Jesus: This is my life plan.”

Carlo called the Eucharist “my highway to heaven,” and he did all in his power to make the real presence known. His witness inspired his parents to return to practicing the Catholic faith and his Hindu nanny to convert and be baptized.

Many of Carlo’s classmates, friends, and family members testified to the Vatican how he brought them closer to God. He is remembered for saying, “People who place themselves before the sun get a tan; people who place themselves before the Eucharist become saints.”

Shortly before his death, Acutis offered his suffering from cancer “for the Pope and for the Church” and expressed a desire to go “straight to heaven.”

Known as a cheerful and kind child with a love for animals, video games, and technology, Acutis’ life has inspired documentaries, digital evangelization projects, and the founding of schools in his name. His legacy continues to resonate strongly with a new generation of Catholics.