The theft of a cherished religious relic has sent shockwaves through Venezuela’s Catholic community, just days after the canonization of Carlo Acutis—the first millennial to be declared a saint by the Catholic Church. The relic, a small circular piece of cloth believed to have been touched by Acutis himself, vanished from the Santo Domingo de Guzmán parish in the Cardenal Quintero municipality of Mérida state on September 9, 2025. The loss has left parishioners, clergy, and youth groups alike grappling with a sense of disbelief and sorrow.
According to the Associated Press, the disappearance was reported by parish staff, and the news was confirmed by Adrián García, coordinator of the San Carlo Acutis Youth Group. "So far, there’s no information; it’s still missing," García said on Friday. "We have faith in God that it will appear. It has great spiritual value." The relic’s absence has prompted an ongoing police investigation, as authorities seek any leads that might help recover the artifact.
The timing of the theft adds a layer of poignancy to the story. The relic was reported missing just two days after Pope Leo XIV canonized Carlo Acutis on September 7, 2025, during an open-air Mass in St. Peter’s Square that drew an estimated 80,000 worshippers. The canonization was a landmark event, not only for the Catholic Church but also for young Catholics worldwide who see Acutis as a symbol of faith in the digital age.
Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 at the young age of 15, was renowned for his technological prowess and deep devotion to his faith. Born on May 3, 1991, in London to a wealthy Italian family, he later moved with his parents back to Milan. Acutis quickly earned the nickname "God’s Influencer" thanks to his notable project: a multilingual website meticulously documenting Eucharistic miracles recognized by the Church. His ability to use modern technology to spread religious teachings made him a role model for a new generation of Catholics navigating a rapidly changing world.
The relic itself is classified as a "third-degree relic," meaning it is an object that has been touched by the saint. In Catholic tradition, such relics carry significant spiritual importance, believed to bring the faithful closer to the holy figures they venerate. The stolen cloth was housed in a glass reliquary within the parish—intended as a focal point for prayer and reflection for the local community, especially for the youth group that had requested it.
The journey of the relic to Venezuela began several years ago. After Acutis was named "blessed" in 2020—a critical step in the path to sainthood—the Venezuelan youth group submitted a request for a relic. Their petition was granted, and the piece of cloth arrived, becoming a source of inspiration for parishioners and young Catholics in the region. The group’s devotion to Acutis was part of a broader movement among young people who found in his life a contemporary model of faith, discipline, and service.
Carlo Acutis’s path to sainthood was marked by a series of extraordinary events. In 2018, he was declared "venerable," a recognition of his virtuous life. Two years later, the Vatican’s saint-making office attributed a miracle to his intercession: the scientifically inexplicable recovery of a child in Brazil from a pancreatic deformation. This miracle paved the way for his beatification in 2020. The recent canonization by Pope Leo XIV was the final step, cementing Acutis’s place in Church history as its first millennial saint.
The theft of the relic has reignited concerns within the Catholic Church about the security and commercialization of sacred objects. As reported by multiple outlets, the Church has previously denounced the online sale of Carlo Acutis’s relics, warning the faithful against purchasing or trading in these items. The illicit market for relics, driven in part by their spiritual and sometimes monetary value, has been a persistent problem for the Church, complicating efforts to share these artifacts with the global faithful while ensuring their protection.
Police in Mérida state are actively investigating the disappearance, but as of Friday, no significant leads had been reported. The parish community remains hopeful that the relic will be returned, emphasizing its immense spiritual value over any material worth. The loss has been particularly hard for the San Carlo Acutis Youth Group, whose members had looked to the relic as a tangible connection to their beloved patron and his message of faith in the digital age.
The story of Carlo Acutis resonates far beyond the boundaries of Venezuela. His life and legacy have inspired countless young people around the world to embrace their faith with renewed vigor, using the tools of modern technology to connect, share, and evangelize. Acutis’s website, which catalogs Eucharistic miracles in multiple languages, continues to draw visitors from across the globe, a testament to the enduring impact of his work.
The theft of his relic, then, is not just a local loss—it is felt by Catholics everywhere who see in Acutis a bridge between tradition and innovation, between the ancient rituals of the Church and the possibilities of the digital era. As the investigation continues, Church leaders and parishioners alike are calling for prayers and vigilance, hoping that the relic will be recovered and restored to its rightful place.
In the meantime, the canonization of Carlo Acutis stands as a powerful reminder of the Church’s ability to recognize holiness in new forms and in new generations. His story—of a young man who harnessed the power of the internet to spread the Gospel—remains a beacon for all who seek to live out their faith in a complex and ever-changing world. As the search for the stolen relic presses on, the spirit of "God’s Influencer" endures, inspiring hope, resilience, and a renewed commitment to the values he held dear.
