While Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks was in Italy for his pallium pilgrimage, he found the time to record an episode of his Sirius XM series, All Good Things with Archbishop Hicks, with The Catholic Guy Show host Lino Rulli. 

When the pair recorded the latest episode, which aired July 1, they were in Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. In addition to being a special place for Catholics, Assisi is also celebrating a special Jubilee Year to commemorate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death. 

While Archbishop Hicks felt moved to be in Assisi to remember Sts. Francis and Clare, there’s another saint who was laid to rest in the city who represents more of the modern church: Saint Carlo Acutis. 

A saint for the modern era  

St. Carlo Acutis, who died at age 15 and is the first millennial saint, made an impact on the archbishop. 

“It is awe-inspiring. You can’t help but feel God in this moment where this saint, in a concrete, radical way, embraced God and showed us how to live the faith in action,” he said, adding that seeing Saint Carlo Acutis’ tomb was an “extremely powerful moment” during the pilgrimage. 

Rulli pointed out that the saint was younger than the archbishop, and he followed God’s word at a very early age. 

“What it says to me is sainthood is possible for all of us,” Archbishop Hicks continued on the show. “I think sometimes we equate sainthood for someone like a Saint Clare or a Saint Francis of Assisi, we see their extraordinary examples and sometimes they can feel unattainable to us… But Carlo gives an accessibility and access to him in real time. Not only do you see Nikes, but you see this young man who played soccer and video games and who lived a very normal life and at the same time lived a holy life that is starting and continues to inspire us.” 

Archbishop Hicks went on to discuss his holy roots, and the support he received to follow Jesus. He also talked about his episcopal motto “Paz y Bien,” and how he finds peace and all good things in the world. 

This conversation is part of this week’s episode of All Good Things with Archbishop Hicks on SiriusXM’s The Catholic Channel (129) and Catholic Faith Network. 

If you have a question for the archbishop, you can send it by email to catholicchannel@siriusxm.com for a chance to be answered on “All Good Things.”