As billions tune in to the Winter Games in Italy, many will recall highlights from past Winter Olympics over the decades. The Catholic athletes at the Games this year are joining a long tradition of Catholic Olympians who have made history with their inspiring stories of faith and endurance.
As the world prepares for the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Catholic Church in the host city has launched an initiative to ensure that amid the competitions and stress, athletes can find a place to pray and reflect.
On Sept. 7, 2025, the Catholic Church canonized its first millennial saint: Carlo Acutis. The 15-year-old from Milan, Italy was a computer enthusiast who used his tech skills to create websites documenting Eucharistic miracles and Catholic saints until his death from leukemia in 2006 at age 15.
