Catholic Diocese of Assisi director of international affairs and custodian of the relics Monsignor Anthony Figueiredo holds up a reliquary containing a 6cm by 2cm section of pericardium belonging to St Carlo Acutis at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Dunedin yesterday. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN A relic of the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint has journeyed around the world and now to Dunedin — its furthest destination yet. St Carlo Acutis died from leukaemia on October 12, 2006, aged 15, and on September 7, 2025, he was canonised by Pope Leo XIV. Relics are the remains or possessions of canonised saints, and a small piece of the Saint’s pericardium, the membrane that surrounds the heart, was shown at St Joseph’s Cathedral yesterday. Accompanying the relic was Monsignor Anthony Figueiredo, of the Catholic Diocese of Assisi, Italy. The relic had visited 23 other countries and Dunedin was its final stop in New Zealand. ‘‘This is the furthest point that we have travelled to, that Carlo has travelled to, and that’s quite historic,’’ Msgr Figueiredo said. ‘‘He’s very happy to come here.’’ St Carlo Acutis was only 7 years old when he decided to put God at the centre of his life. He came from a wealthy family and was talented with a computer, appealing particularly to young people, teenagers and families. He was ‘‘a saint for the young’’, Msgr Figueiredo said. ‘‘Kids really relate to this saint. ‘‘He’s a saint on their level, because they too wear t-shirts, they too wear jeans, they too use computers.’’ It was not the only relic of the saint to make its way to Dunedin — a lock of his hair, a piece of his favourite t-shirt and ‘‘the bedsheet soaked with his blood, sweat and tears when he was dying’’ had also made the journey, Msgr Figueiredo said. When travelling around the world, permission was sought from the police before leaving Italy, who in turn contacted local authorities to ensure the relics were brought in safely. ‘‘We’re talking about the part of the heart of the saint, and in fact, it’s priceless. ‘‘It’s irreplaceable, and so we do take extreme care.’’ St Joseph’s Cathedral parish priest Fr Vaughan Leslie said it was wonderful to have the opportunity to receive the relic. There were relics of other saints at the cathedral, but the last time one had visited from around the world was the sarcophagus of St Therese of Lisieux, in the 2000s. The pericardium was considered a ‘‘first class’’ relic as it was a part of a saint’s body. A ‘‘second class’’ relic was one that had touched a saint, Fr Leslie said. The relic was also shown at the Holy Name Catholic Church in North Dunedin yesterday. On Saturday, it was at Oamaru Basilica and the Little Sisters of the Poor in Brockville. tim.scott@odt.co.nz
