The Catholic Church gained two new patrons of young people on Sept. 7, 2025: Saint Carlo Acutis and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati. While Mass was celebrated at the Vatican by new Pope Leo XIV, Franciscan University students gathered in the JC for their own celebration. 

“I’m really excited,” said Aija Tuttle, a sophomore. “I think it’s really cool and important for us to have younger saints … seeing [Carlo Acutis] specifically. He had Pokémon cards and a Spiderman costume. I had a Spiderman costume too! I’ve been thinking about it, like, I could be a saint too.” 

Two cardboard cutouts of the saints stood near the residence life desk in a photo booth-style setup. The cutouts were courtesy of Catholic Imprint, a family-run printing company. Being longtime supporters of Franciscan, they kindly sent the cutouts and holy cards at the last minute for the event. 

Ian Hoover, a junior, shared his admiration for the new saints. “Everyone loves blessed Carlo Acutis because he was pretty normal … and he did all this in relation to virtue. Blessed Carlo Acutis showed us we can live in the modern world while loving God. And I love blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati because … he shows you can be an authentically pious man … He was a stereotypical bro but did not fall into the modern temptations.” 

“[Pier Giergio] and blessed Carlo are the greatest examples of modern young male saints,” Hoover continued. He noted how they reflect the lives of today’s Catholic youths, adding, “They show us how to be a saint in this age when the world says you cannot.”  

Pier Giergio Frassati, once called the “Man of the Beatitudes” by St. John Paul II, was an ordinary young man who loved sports and mountain climbing. He often used his trips to the mountains to bring friends into prayer and conversation. 

“Carlo is awesome because he was alive when I was alive. I think it’s great that we have a saint that can model how we live,” said Bridget Clark, a sophomore.  

It’s a sentiment shared by many students–the idea that the Church recognizes saints who lived in the modern times and who enjoyed familiar hobbies is inspiring. 

“The party is pretty lit,” Clark added, calling it “the most Franciscan thing ever.”  

Her words weren’t an exaggeration. Even before the celebration officially began, the JC was packed with students. Some came for the free pizza–which ran out quickly–while others gathered to watch the live-streamed Mass from the Vatican. 

A Mario Kart championship was held around 1 a.m., a tribute to Saint Carlo’s well-known loved for video games. Students crowded around a projector, cheering on the racers. As Carlo himself might have done, the game brought people together. 

Credit for the canonization party goes in part to Elizabeth Swift, who didn’t expect her last-minute idea to take off so tremendously. But Student Government and Excite! enthusiastically supported the idea and helped bring it to life, excited to honor our new heavenly friends. 

Mass at the Vatican began around 3:45 a.m. While more than 80,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, an equally spirited group celebrated in the JC. 

“Saints Carlo and Pier Giorgio … are an invitation to all of us, especially young people, not to squander our lives, but to direct them upwards and make them masterpieces,” Pope Leo XIV said during the canonization Mass. 

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati and Saint Carlo Acutis, pray for us!