Relic of St Carlo Acutis arrives in New Zealand

By CathNews New Zealand

June 9th, 2026

(Archdiocese of Wellington)

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Wellington was filled to capacity on Sunday, June 7, as it hosted the first Mass in a pilgrimage of a relic of St Carlo Acutis in this country. Source: Archdiocese of Wellington.

Pilgrimages of relics of saints do not happen in New Zealand often. As Archbishop Paul Martin SM said in his homily, the relic is a reminder that holiness is not reserved for another age from centuries ago, but is possible today – and for everyone.

He also spoke of St Carlo’s love of the Eucharist, a love which can be a model for lives and is also a challenge for all Catholics to truly believe what they say about the Eucharist.

“The Eucharist is not one part of our faith,” he said. “It’s the very heart of our faith.”

That the relic was in Wellington was fitting, Archbishop Martin said, because it was also Corpus Christi – the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ – and several young people would receive their First Communion at the Mass.

“Christ does not leave us alone. He feeds us with the bread of life,” Archbishop Martin said, before concluding his homily with words of advice, drawing from St Carlo.

“May the Eucharist become for us, as it was for him, our highway to heaven.”

The relic of St Carlo was a piece of his pericardium. The pericardium is the membrane that surrounds the heart. It has great physical importance in protecting the heart, but also deep spiritual meaning as the site of people’s sentiments and actions.

St Carlo (1991-2006) used the internet to promote Catholic devotion. He taught himself programming and web design, created a website of eucharistic miracles and helped his parish and school with digital projects. Beatified in 2020, he officially became a saint in 2025.

The first millennial to become a saint, he’s sometimes called “God’s influencer” and, because of his love for video games, the “gamer saint”.

The relic remains in Wellington until June 9, when it will continue its New Zealand pilgrimage in Palmerston North Diocese.

FULL STORY

St Carlo Acutis relic in Wellington (Archdiocese of Wellington)

Relic of St Carlo Acutis coming to New Zealand in June (NZCBC)

A Relic of St Carlo Acutis is Coming to Aotearoa (Catholic Discovery NZ)