“The Eucharist is my highway to heaven,’’and also his now-famous phrase:
‘’All are born as originals, but many die as photocopies.”These words particularly resonate in a world where young people are often influenced by social networking trends, seeking to imitate rather than cultivate their own identity. At the age of 15, Carlo fell ill with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Despite the pain, he accepted his illness with unshakeable faith, offering his suffering for the Church and the Pope. He died in 2006, leaving behind him a powerful testimony to accessible holiness, rooted in everyday life and the virtuous use of technology. When I told my daughter about Carlo Acutis, she was intrigued. She read his story and was surprised that someone so close to her in age had managed to reconcile faith and technology in such an inspiring way. It got her thinking about her own use of screens and inspired her to learn more about how she too could use digital for something greater than mere entertainment.
Here is the final document from the Pre-synod of Bishop 2018. These reflections were borne out of the meeting of more than 300 young representatives from around the world, convened in Rome March 19-24