As the Catholic Church prepares to canonize Carlo Acutis—the first millennial saint and a devout gamer—a senior Italian archbishop has strongly condemned the attempted online sale of relics linked to the soon-to-be saint, calling the act “Satan’s work.”
The controversy erupted when an anonymous seller listed what were claimed to be strands of Acutis’ hair for auction online. The bidding reportedly reached $2,200 before the item was taken down following intervention by Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, who oversees the Assisi diocese where Acutis’ remains are kept. Sorrentino promptly contacted authorities to investigate the situation.
While relics—ranging from hair to bone fragments—are revered in Catholic tradition and often venerated in prayer, Church law strictly forbids their sale. “They may be gifted by their custodians or bishops,” Sorrentino explained in a video posted on the diocesan website, “but never sold. And for major relics like organs, Vatican approval is required.”
After confirming the auction’s existence, Sorrentino said, “We filed a formal complaint. The obsession with money can lead to dark places—I fear the devil’s influence in this.” He emphasized that regardless of whether the relics were genuine or not, the incident amounts to a serious violation of religious sensitivity and potentially a criminal offense.
The case has been referred to police in Perugia, with authorities asked to seize the relics. “Even if they are fake, it’s not just fraud—it’s a profound offense to the faith,” the archbishop noted.
Sorrentino also voiced broader concerns about the growing online trade in relics, mentioning that artifacts associated with various saints—including St. Francis of Assisi—are being sold with price tags attached. “This kind of commercialization is completely unacceptable,” he said.
Carlo Acutis, who passed away in 2006 from leukemia at age 15, gained admiration for using his tech skills to promote the Catholic faith online. He has since been dubbed “God’s influencer” and is regarded as an inspiration for young believers. Archbishop Sorrentino said Acutis would serve as a kind of “patron saint of the internet” following his canonization, which is scheduled to take place on April 27 in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.
