Pope declares late teen's life a 'masterpiece'

WHO DIED AGED 15 CANONISED

- BY LUCY THORNTON

A COMPUTER whizzkid dubbed God's Influencer who passed away in 2006 has been made a saint.

London-born Carlo Acutis, a geeky gamer who loved Pokemon, football, Nutella and his pets, was 15 when he died of leukaemia.

Before his death, he told his family he was not scared to die, adding: "Don't worry, Mum, I will send you signs that I am with God."

Yesterday, many believe he sent the biggest sign of all to his mum Antonia Salzano, as she joined a packed St Peter's Square at the Vatican where Pope Leo declared him the Catholic church's first millennial saint.

She sat with his brother Michele, who gave a reading for the sibling he never met. He and his twin Francesca were born on the fourth anniversary of Carlos death. Carlo was born in the UK in 1991 but taken back to Italy by his parents, whose wealthy family own an insurance company, aged four months.

As he grew up, Carlo showed some unusual qualities, limiting his own Playstation sessions to an hour a week, preferring to program and build websites to spread teachings of the church, including a site dedicated to miracles.

Mrs Salzano, 58, from Milan, claims it was around the time of his funeral - attended by migrants and bullied children he helped - that his miraculous powers emerged.