CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A relic of Carlo Acutis, who was declared the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint last week, was stolen from a parish in western Venezuela, the coordinator of a youth group devoted to the man known as “God’s Influencer” confirmed Friday.
The disappearance of the relic - a small, circular piece of cloth - was reported on Sept. 9 by staff at the Santo Domingo de Guzmán parish in Cardenal Quintero municipality in Mérida state, said Adrián García, coordinator of the San Carlo Acutis Youth Group.
“So far, there’s no information; it’s still missing,” García said Friday. “We have faith in God that it will appear. It has great spiritual value.”
The relic, which was housed in a glass reliquary, disappeared just two days after Pope Leo XIV declared Acutis a saint. The 15-year-old computer expert, who used technology to spread the faith, is considered a role model for the next generation of Catholics.
The cloth is a “third-degree relic,” which are usually objects that have been touched by the saint.
Police are investigating its disappearance, the parish said.
The Catholic Church has previously denounced the online sale of Carlo Acutis' relics.
Acutis was named “venerable” in 2018. He was then declared “blessed” in 2020 after the Vatican’s saint-making office declared that a child in Brazil who recovered from a pancreatic deformation was “scientifically inexplicable” and a miracle attributed to Acutis’ intercession.
Leo canonized Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006, on Sept. 7 during an open-air Mass in St. Peter’s Square before an estimated 80,000 people.
Acutis was born on May 3, 1991, in London to a wealthy family who moved back to Milan, Italy. He earned the nickname “God’s Influencer,” thanks to his main tech legacy: a multilingual website documenting so-called Eucharistic miracles recognized by the church.
It is common for relics to be sent to churches in various countries. In this case, the Venezuelan youth group had requested the relic when Acutis was declared blessed, a step prior to sainthood.
Pilgrims arrive for the canonization Mass of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
DHARAMSHALA, India (AP) — Skipper Shubman Gill scored 84 not out off 66 balls for India to beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in a rain-affected one-day international on Saturday.
Rain delayed the toss for more than four hours and reduced the match to 25 overs per side. India won with 13 balls to spare at 193-5 in reply to Afghanistan's 194 all out.
Gill hit 11 fours and two sixes with help from Lokesh Rahul, 39 not out off 19 balls.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz's 102 off 51 balls went in vain, though he helped Afghanistan recover from 54-7.
India debutants did well; pacer Gurnoor Brar took 3-27 and left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey 3-47.
India leads the first bilateral ODI cricket series between the teams 1-0. Lucknow hosts the second ODI on Wednesday and Chennai hosts the third and last match on June 20.
Put into bat, Afghanistan was cut down to 26-3 in 4.3 overs when Gurbaz counterattacked.
He hit four sixes and four boundaries en route to 50 off only 25 balls. The next 50 came off 23 balls with another four sixes and four fours — the ninth century for Gurbaz and the first for an Afghanistan batter against India.
It was also the second quickest ODI century against India after Shahid Afridi took 45 balls in 2005 for Pakistan.
Gurbaz was eventually bowled in the 16th over — off Nitish Reddy — after putting on 116 off 66 balls with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (27).
Afghanistan slipped again. Dubey dismissed Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai (26). The last five batters didn’t reach double digits, out for 22 runs in 26 balls.
In reply, Rohit Sharma was run out on 16. Gill, though, carried his form over from the Indian Premier League in scoring his 18th ODI half-century off 37 balls.
Ishan Kishan added 34 runs and Shreyas Iyer 12, but Gill and Rahul hung tough. They put on 53 unbeaten together off 32 balls and Rahul cleaned up with three sixes and four boundaries in only 19 balls.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
India's Gurnoor Brar acknowledges the applause from fans after taking three wickets during the first ODI cricket match between Afghanistan and India in Dharamshala, India, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz celebrates his century during the first ODI cricket match between Afghanistan and India in Dharamshala, India, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz celebrates his fifty runs during the first ODI cricket match between Afghanistan and India in Dharamshala, India, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
India's captain Shubman Gill, right, celebrates his fifty runs during the first ODI cricket match between Afghanistan and India in Dharamshala, India, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
India's captain Shubman Gill plays a shot during the first ODI cricket match between Afghanistan and India in Dharamshala, India, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
India's captain Shubman Gill, left, and Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi after the coin toss ahead of the first ODI cricket match between Afghanistan and India in Dharamshala, India, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
India's captain Shubman Gill, left, and Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi look after the coin toss ahead of the first ODI cricket match between Afghanistan and India in Dharamshala, India, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
Indian supporter sit in the stands as rain delayed the start of play on the first ODI cricket match between Afghanistan and India in Dharamshala, India, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
Rain covers are on at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium ahead of the first ODI cricket match between Afghanistan and India in Dharamshala, India, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
Rain covers are on at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium against the backdrop of the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas ahead of the first ODI cricket match between Afghanistan and India in Dharamshala, India, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
