I wasn’t allowed to take pictures.
While some sing “I should have taken more photos” 🎶, I was not permitted to do so. And although at first I thought I would miss it, this time I wasn’t worried about the camera: I was suspended in time as I contemplated the incorrupt body of Carlo Acutis, the first “millennial” saint. His face radiated peace and, as I looked at him, my heart was filled with deep gratitude and renewed hope.
Pilgrim’s way
A month has passed since our return, and I continue seeking moments of silence with God to relive that experience and to listen to what He wanted to inscribe in my heart. My spiritual director had challenged me with two instructions before leaving: to go without expectations and not to bring my iPad. For someone as structured as I am, it was not easy to obey. Today, however, I give thanks for his wisdom and for God’s grace that allowed me to do so: every day of the pilgrimage became a divine surprise, an unexpected gift.
This September 7, 2025, will remain etched in my heart: the canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati. Two young men who lived their faith with radical joy. I can think of no better occasion to begin sharing the testimony of my pilgrimage and to encourage you to reflect on your own encounters with the Lord along your journey.
Assisi: Land of Saints
Carlo would often say with conviction: “The Eucharist is my highway to Heaven.” He also said: “When we are exposed to the sun we get a tan, when we are exposed to the Eucharist we become saints.” In Assisi, a land already marked by the steps of St. Francis and St. Clare, Carlo’s presence adds a new chapter to the legacy of holiness: a young man who could easily have been your brother, your neighbor, your friend. Between video games and walks in nature, he left behind an unforgettable gift with his project on Eucharistic Miracles, a testimony that has now reached the entire world.
Carlo’s life, so recent and so close to us, has become a beacon of hope for millions. What joy that his canonization took place in this Jubilee Year, dedicated to proclaiming the hope that does not disappoint. My heart was moved as I saw thousands of young people gathered for the Jubilee of Youth, singing and celebrating Christ in every procession, in every altar.
And yet, among so many experiences, there is something I treasure even more: the “extended family” that was born along the way. Sharing breakfasts, dinners, walks, and prayers with fellow pilgrims from so many places and parishes made it clear to me that the Church is truly universal and close, like a home that transcends borders.
And now I ask you:
- How much do you know about the lives of ordinary people who lived an extraordinary faith?
- What do you know about Francis of Assisi, Clare, Carlo Acutis, or Pier Giorgio Frassati?
Pause for a moment with this phrase from St. Carlo Acutis:
“Conversion is nothing more than shifting our gaze from down to up; a simple movement of the eyes is enough.”
May that upward movement of the eyes, toward God, also be the beginning of your own inner pilgrimage.
