Piazza Tommaseo in Milan speaks of Carlo Acutis at every corner. 

Here, in this very square, stands the school where young Carlo spent eight years of his life—attending both primary and middle school. Just steps away is the parish of Santa Maria Segreta, where he took catechism classes. 

Sister Miranda Moltedo and Sister Monica Ceroni, who were among Carlo’s teachers, walk us through the places that shaped him during his school years. His classroom is still there, along with his report card and a photo showing him smiling among friends.  

Carlo was a child like many others—joyful, lively, and full of curiosity. 

Sister Miranda is the Principal of Carlo Acutis’ school, Istituto Tommaseo in Milan. Speaking about Carlo Acutis, she highlights, “He was a calm child—one of those sweet, gentle kids, let’s say. Not exactly invisible, but the kind who never caused any trouble. He wasn’t hyperactive, nor did he come from a difficult family background, which sometimes happens. He was just a completely normal child."  

In elementary school, what really matters is the parents—children usually reflect their home life. And from this child, you could tell he came from a very normal, loving family.” 

From an early age, it was clear that Carlo had a deep interest in both religion and computer science. 

Sister Monica, Carlo’s middle school religion teacher, says, “Religion was the only subject in which he consistently earned top marks—because his interest was genuinely strong. That well-known phrase, ‘We are all born as originals, but many die as photocopies’, came from an assignment he wrote in class, during a religion lesson.” 

Carlo was a cheerful child, always in a good mood, fully integrated with his classmates, constantly joking and laughing with them. 

Sister Monica also recalls, “He was also a real prankster! One of the funniest stories I always tell is about a classroom prank that even made it into the math teacher’s journal. 

The teacher came into class after recess, did the roll call, and noticed three students were missing. She asked, ‘Where are they?’ As she headed toward the door to call me, suddenly Carlo and the others jumped out of the classroom closet yelling ‘Boo!’  

She wrote in her log: ‘Carlo, Carlo, and Lorenzo jumped out of the classroom closet during math class yelling Boo!’ 

That note became well-known, because it captured who Carlo truly was—cheerful, playful, and full of life.” 

Today, Sister Miranda and Sister Monica speak to their students about Saint Carlo Acutis—“the saintly student”—who not long ago walked these halls, played soccer in this very courtyard, and now has been added to the official register of saints. 

“In our curriculum, we teach the lives of the saints," Sister Miranda explains, “especially those connected to the history of Christianity: Saint Paul, Saint Dominic, Saint Francis—the great figures. But of course, we’ll now include Saint Carlo Acutis.” 

I feel personally called to share his story. But we try to present these holy figures not as unreachable beings from another world, but as real people—people who made a free and conscious choice to become friends of God. And we remind the students that each of us is called to that same friendship.” 

Sister Monica Ceroni saw Carlo just days before his death from acute leukemia, at the age of 15. 

“Yes, we ran into each other just outside Santa Maria Segreta. I was going in, and he was coming out. It was right at the start of the school year—his second year of high school. I greeted him, asked about his plans, and he told me he was excited to be back and wanted to apply himself, especially thanks to his passion for computer science.” 

Both Sister Monica and Sister Miranda were in Rome for Carlo’s canonization remembering forever “the saint from the school desk beside you.” 

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Adapted by Jacob Stein

Produced by Alexey Gotovsky; Camera by Gianluca Gangemi, Anthony Johnson; Video Edited by Alessio Di Cintio