On the day when Carlo Acutis was scheduled to be canonized, April 27, youths and young adults from around the diocese gathered at the Regal Fairfax Towne Center in Fairfax for the premiere of the new film based on the soon-to-be-saint’s legacy, “Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality.”
The film, produced by Jim Wahlberg and directed by Tim Moriarty, explores the life and legacy of Carlo and how he navigated the modern world.
“The film portrays Carlo Acutis’ digital legacy and serves as a reminder that a life lived predominantly through screens risks replacing deep, transcendent experiences with superficial online interactions,” said Moriarty.
The film also takes viewers on the journey of high school students from North Dakota who embark on a two-week pilgrimage to Italy. However, they must leave their phones back home.
“Their journey culminates in a visit to Carlo’s tomb, who throughout their journey, symbolically guides them away from the illusions of the virtual world, toward the fullness of reality, most especially the reality of the Eucharist,” said Moriarty.
The film includes personal reflections from Carlo’s family and friends, who recount how he touched their lives and influenced them in meaningful ways.
Carlo was an Italian teenager raised in Milan who was known for his deep faith from a very young age. He had a special devotion to the Eucharist and used his computer skills to create a website cataloging Eucharistic miracles around the world. Despite his short life — he died of leukemia at age 15 Oct. 12, 2006 — Carlo left a lasting impact through his joyful witness to faith and his use of technology for evangelization. He is set to become the church’s first millennial saint.
Siblings Ezra, 16, Jacinta, 14, and Simeon, 12, attended the premiere organized by the diocesan Office of Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministries.
“I think it’s cool that we are present for the first millennial saint and that’s pretty inspiring,” said Jacinta. One of the steps she says we can take to become more like Carlo is going to Mass.
Before the film started, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge offered a prayer and delivered brief remarks about Carlo.
“He is a great role model for young people, who knew how to live life every day. He said he had no regrets because he lived life every day the way God intended. He used technology, internet and social media as gifts, never abusing it but for the purpose to evangelize and to lead people closer to Jesus,” said Bishop Burbidge. “He is an inspiration not only for young people but for all of us.”
Meridyth Rosato, 26, and Natalie Rosato, 27, parishioners of St. Mary of Sorrows Church in Fairfax, said they appreciated how the film highlighted the enduring impact of Carlo’s legacy.
“It was incredible how many different things they were able to tie in and kind of leave us with this theme of continuing his legacy while also taking us through his life,” said Natalie. “It felt very inspirational and motivational.”
“It was so relatable,” said Meridyth. “It was nice to see someone in jeans and sneakers that was incorruptible and feel like you can relate to the person. It’s not complicated, it’s just challenging, it’s very simple to be a saint.”
Christine Rousselle, 33, a parishioner of St. Rita Church in Alexandria, has been a follower of Carlo for a while now. She was born just a few weeks after Carlo. For her, it’s surreal to have a millennial representative in the canon of the saints.
“I feel like I would’ve been friends with him,” said Rousselle. “I wonder what he would’ve grow up to be like. Would he be doing his own thing in Italian Catholic media?”
Carlo Acutis’ canonization, originally scheduled for April 27, has been postponed indefinitely following the death of Pope Francis April 21.
Batista can be reached at [email protected].
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