They called him 'God's influencer,' the Catholic Church canonizes the first millennial saint

SCOTT DETROW, HOST:

Tomorrow, an Italian boy who died in 2006 becomes the Catholic Church's first millennial saint - in other words, the first saint from a generation of smartphones, social media and the internet. Just 15-years-old when he died, Carlo Acutis had been nicknamed God's influencer or the Saint of the internet for how he promoted Catholic miracles online. He'll be canonized by Pope Leo at a mass in St. Peter's Square, attended by tens of thousands of faithful. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports on Acutis' family and the people from around the world who are visiting the tomb of this modern-day saint.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Singing in non-English language).

RUTH SHERLOCK, BYLINE: Assisi, the Italian hilltop town has long been a draw for the Catholic faithful.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Si