Blessed Carlo Acutis: A Beacon of Faith and Responsible Technology Use
A personal reflection from Eileen O’Connor, Director and Co- Founder of the EM Radiation Research Trust
Due to be canonised on 7 September 2025, his life and witness already deeply inspire our mission
Blessed Carlo Acutis is often called the “computer genius,” a young man whose deep faith and thoughtful use of technology inspired many. Carlo embraced technology as a tool to spread the Gospel and foster devotion, especially through his pioneering online cataloguing of Eucharistic miracles around the world.
Carlo emphasised the importance of using technology responsibly, warning that the internet should not become a means to disconnect from real life, faith, and authentic relationships. He was deeply concerned about young people spending excessive time online and losing touch with what is real, good, and holy. His message was clear: technology must serve God and not become a barrier to faith and true human connection.
Recently, I had the blessing of visiting the relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis during his tour of England. I was profoundly moved by his story: a young man of radiant faith and extraordinary insight who embraced technology to evangelise and yet died so young from leukemia. Carlo’s purity, his devotion to the Eucharist, and his thoughtful use of technology to serve the truth of the Gospel reflect the very values we strive to uphold at the EM Radiation Research Trust the protection of life, the integrity of creation, and the responsible use of human invention.
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s powerful address on July 30th, 2025, to nearly one million young pilgrims in Rome included a heartfelt warning about the commercial abuse of social media and its impact on authentic human relationships. As someone whose life is dedicated to protecting others from the silent harms of modern wireless technologies, I was deeply moved by the pope’s clarity, compassion, and courage.
We would like to embrace Blessed Carlo Acutis as the patron of our charity. His example inspires our mission: to protect life, promote truth, and call for ethical technology use in an increasingly wireless world.
Eileen O’Connor
Director and Co-Founder, EM Radiation Research Trust