Catholic Church Investigates Sale of Carlo Acutis Relics Ahead of Canonization

Italian authorities are working with the Church to address the illicit online auction of relics tied to the soon-to-be millennial saint, as preparations for his April 27 canonization continue.

• The Catholic Church has filed a complaint with Italian police to seize purported relics of Carlo Acutis being sold online, with bids reaching $2,200 before the auction was halted.
• Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino condemned the sale as a sin and an insult to religious sentiment, emphasizing that relics are meant for veneration, not commercial exploitation.
• Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia at age 15 in 2006, will be canonized on April 27, 2025, during the Vatican's Jubilee for Adolescents, making him the Church's first millennial saint.
• Over a million pilgrims have visited Acutis' shrine in Assisi in the past year, drawn by his deep faith, technological contributions, and relatability as a modern role model.
• The controversy highlights the Church's efforts to balance sacred traditions with modern challenges, as Acutis' life inspires both admiration and skepticism regarding the Church's outreach to youth.

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