Canonisation of Carlos Acutis and Giorgio Frassati expected to attract up to 100,000 pilgrims

 VATICAN CITY - Up to 100,000 young people are expected in St. Peter's Square to attend the canonization ceremony of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis, on Sunday.

 In particular, Carlo Acutis, born in London on May 3, 1991, raised in Milan, and who died at just 15 years old, considered “the patron saint of the internet and millennials”, is expected to draw large crowds of young people from youth networks and Catholic oratories. Numerous buses are expected, especially from Piedmont and Lombardy, the regions where the two blesseds were originally from.

 Carlo Acutis died of acute leukaemia. Pope Francis recognized his heroic virtues, attributed a miracle to his intercession, and beatified him in Assisi in October of 2020. He was originally set to be proclaimed a saint on April 27, but the event was postponed due to the sudden death of the Pope, which occurred a week earlier. On that day, about 130,000 young people had already arrived in Rome for the Jubilee of Adolescents, and they still attended the funeral of Pope Francis. Pilgrims came from all over Italy, as well as from European countries such as Spain, Portugal, France, Ukraine, the UK, Germany, and from other continents such as Chile, Venezuela, Mexico, Australia, Argentina, and Nigeria.

 For Pier Frassati, a Catholic activist dedicated to social justice who died of polio in 1924, the canonization was instead originally scheduled for Aug 3, during the Jubilee of Youth. Therefore, the two blesseds will be canonized during the same ceremony this coming Sunday, which will also be the first canonization of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate.

 Among the first measures issued by order of the prefect of Rome, Lamberto Giannini, for Sunday, there has been a ban on bottled and canned drinks and ban on carrying bottles, glass containers, and cans in public areas, with the exception of those containing essential food items packaged exclusively in glass.

 The ordinance follows a note sent to Palazzo Valentini by Police Chief Roberto Massucci on July 28, which highlighted “possible repercussions for public order and safety related to the above-mentioned event.” Given the potential serious disturbances to public order and safety that could be caused by the throwing of glass containers and/or cans, the prefect decided to issue a ban starting at midnight on September 7 until the needs of the day are over, in the area bounded by Largo del Colonnato – Largo degli Alicorni – Piazza Pio XII – Via della Conciliazione (between Piazza Pio XII and Via della Traspontina).

 Security measures have been tightened, the square will be sealed off, and DIGOS (the Italian special police unit) is on alert.

 Attendance will partly be through accreditation via Catholic networks, but lay faithful may also participate freely. Therefore, attendance in the square is expected to range from 50,000 to 100,000 people.

 Regarding traffic, starting from 6 a.m on Saturday, there will be no stopping or transit allowed on Via della Conciliazione and the main roads surrounding the Vatican.

rs