Nicknamed God’s influencer, Carlo, who died at age 15, used technology to express his religious beliefs. The church sees him as a way to connect to the young.

His face peaceful, almost smiling, dressed in his favorite jeans and sneakers — the uniform of every teenager, made sacred.

The new statue's location in Assisi and its most notable saint, St. Francis, also factored into its design. The depiction of Blessed Acutis kneeling at the foot of the cross was a "kind of nod to the traditional representation of St. Francis with Jesus."

Dear faithful and most beloved young people, let yourselves be guided by Carlo, follow his example, follow in his footsteps, walk his path," the bishop said.

Soon-to-be St. Carlo Acutis is a fresh "shoot" budding from the 800-year-old spiritual "vine" of Sts. Francis and Clare in Assisi, said the rector of the shrine housing the millennial teenager's tomb.