Live from Rome: Canonisation of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati

Update 6:00 AM (5:00 AM GMT)
Good morning from St Peter’s. My name is Niwa Limbu, your correspondent today, reporting live from the solemn canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.
The weather this morning in Rome is cool, though temperatures are expected to rise in the coming hours.
The faithful are already gathering in St Peter’s Square, trying to secure ideal spots to watch the canonisation take place.

Update 6:03 AM
In the build-up to this highly anticipated event, Italian police are arriving at the Vatican to coordinate preparations for today’s canonisation.

Update 6:10 AM
Pilgrims continue to gather in anticipation of the ceremony. Excitement is building across Italy, particularly among Catholic associations and youth groups.
Earlier, I spoke with members of Catholic Action, the Italian association representing children, young people, and Christian families. They told me they are “deeply moved and full of joy for this historic moment.”
From southern Italy, members of Catholic Action noted that their “Workshop of the Mind of Jesus” has been preparing spiritually for the canonisation, seeing it as an opportunity to renew their commitment to faith and service.
The atmosphere remains one of great celebration and anticipation as the faithful await the solemn liturgy that will raise new saints to the altars.

Update 6:49 AM
The gates will open at 7:00. The queue of people stretches from the Saint Anne’s entrance of the Vatican to the end of the Via della Porta Angelica, all eager to witness today’s canonisations.

Update 7:41 AM
More people are arriving from around the world to witness the canonisation of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Update 8:03 AM
Crowds of lay faithful are now flooding into St Peter’s Square, which is filling to capacity.

Update 8:47 AM
The family of Carlo Acutis has arrived.

Update 9:07 AM
Participating bishops are now being seated.

Update 9:30 AM
Thirty minutes remain until the Mass begins. As expected, tens of thousands of people are in the square, with family members of the two blesseds lined up near the front. We are now awaiting the arrival of the Holy Father and the beginning of the ceremony. A total of 270 bishops are expected to attend.

Update 9:37 AM
The Pope has arrived.
He is now delivering his introductory message and blessing in Italian.
The Holy Father remarked that he would tour the piazza after Mass, “if we’re patient enough”… of course we are!

Update 10:00 AM
The antiphon is being sung by the Rome Diocese Choir—Psalm 42 is currently being performed.
The procession is being led by His Holiness, accompanied by His Eminence Cardinal Roberto Repole, His Excellency Claudio Giuliodori, His Excellency Mario Delpini, and His Excellency Domenico Sorrentino.

Update 10:04 AM
The Veni Creator Spiritus is now being chanted as the Pope and the 36 cardinals have processed with the main celebrants.

Update 10:08 AM
Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, accompanied by the postulators, approaches the Holy Father to formally request the canonisation of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Blessed Carlo Acutis.
Cardinal Semeraro is now briefly presenting the biographies of Acutis and Frassati. The crowd responds with cheers and applause.

Update 10:16 AM
The Litany of Supplication is now being prayed aloud, led by Pope Leo XIV.
Everyone across the square is standing.

Update 10:23 AM
Following the chanting of the Litany of Supplication, the Holy Father has solemnly proclaimed the formula of canonisation. With those words, the Church officially recognises Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Blessed Carlo Acutis as Saints of the Universal Church.
The Holy Father is now incensing the relics of Saint Acutis and Saint Frassati.
The crowd has erupted in joyful applause and prayer as the names of the new saints are declared.

Update 10:25 AM
The Alleluia, Tibi Laus Domine is now being chanted by the schola.
The Cardinal Prefect and the postulators are now thanking the Holy Father for canonising the new saints.

Update 10:29 AM
The Gloria is now being sung by the schola.

Update 10:33 AM
The First Reading is about to be proclaimed. A very special moment: Michele Acutis, the sister of Saint Carlo Acutis, will be reading.

Update 10:39 AM
The Second Reading is now being proclaimed by Lorenzo Zardi. The reading is from the Letter of Saint Paul to Philemon (verses 9–10, 12–17).

Update 10:44 AM
The Holy Gospel is now being proclaimed by Deacon Antonello Bruno.
Today’s Gospel is Luke 14:25-33.

Update 10:47 AM
In a surprise addition, the Holy Gospel is now being proclaimed again by Greek Eastern Catholic Deacon Peter Tatulli.

Update 10:51 AM
The homily is now being delivered by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in Italian.

Update 10:59 AM
“The greatest risk in life is to waste it outside of God’s plan,” Pope Leo XIV says. Jesus calls us to abandon ourselves without hesitation to the adventure he offers us, with the intelligence and strength that come from his Spirit; to empty ourselves in order to listen to his word.

Pope Leo XIV’s homily reflects on God’s wisdom and the witness of the two new saints, Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis.
Like Solomon, who asked, “What must I do so that nothing is lost?”, the saints show us how to live fully for God.
From St Francis’s “Lord, what do you want me to do?” to St Augustine’s inner voice — “I want you” — holiness often begins with a simple “yes,” even while still young, like Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Update 11:10 AM
After the proclamation of the Credo, the liturgy continues with the Universal Prayer, offered in five different languages, reflecting the great diversity of the faithful gathered here today from every corner of the world.

Spanish – Valeria Vargas Valverde
Arabic – Samar Messayeh
French – Sébastien Milazzo
Korean – Lee Yeolrin
Portuguese – Sr Francisca Erineuda Firmino Bento

The voices of prayer rise in many tongues, a sign of the universality of the Church and the communion of peoples united in faith on this historic day.

Update 11:13 AM
The Offertory Chant has begun, with lay people bringing the offerings to His Holiness at the altar. Eucharistic Prayer III is being used for the Preface.

Update 11:20 AM
The Schola is now chanting the Sanctus as we prepare for the Consecration of the Host.

Update 11:25 AM
The bread and wine have been consecrated into the Body and Blood of Christ.

Update 11:31 AM
The Agnus Dei has just been chanted, and now 250 priests and deacons are distributing communion to the thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square.

Update 11:42 AM
The distribution of communion is now concluding. The priests and deacons who assisted are processing towards a makeshift sacristy located on the right-hand side of the colonnade of St Peter’s.

Update 11:49 AM
The Mass has concluded with a Papal Blessing from the Holy Father.
The crowd erupts in applause as Pope Leo XIV prepares to visit the square.

Update 11:51 AM
The Pope has concluded the Mass with the Angelus and Iubilate Deo, bringing to a close this historic event in the life of the Catholic Church.

This marks the end of our live coverage.

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