Matheus Vianna had suffered vomiting and malnutrition since early childhood. Examinations had revealed a narrowing of the duodenum associated with ring-shaped pancreatic tissue. At a celebration with a relic of Carlo Acutis on October 12, 2013, he asked that he no longer have to vomit. Afterward, he could retain food and develop normally. Later examinations no longer showed the previously diagnosed malformation. The case was recognized in 2020 for Acutis's beatification.
The healing concerns duodenal stenosis associated with an incomplete annular pancreas: the child became free of vomiting and malnutrition without the surgical intervention under consideration; later examinations no longer showed the earlier anatomical anomaly.
A Child Who Could Barely Keep Food Down
In the report from Humap-UFMS University Hospital, treating pediatrician Rosângela Maria Pereira Salgado described frequent treatment for vomiting, dehydration, and malnutrition. Her colleague Débora Marchetti Thomaz also cared for the child. A congenital malformation was diagnosed in 2012: ring-shaped pancreatic tissue was associated with a narrowing of the duodenum. Surgery was considered but had not yet been performed because of his weak condition.[1][3]
The Request of October 12, 2013
His mother Luciana and grandfather Elias describe attending a celebration with a relic of Carlo Acutis in Campo Grande. Matheus asked that he no longer have to vomit. After returning home, he could eat and retain the food. The change continued in daily life; the boy gained strength and continued to develop.[2][3]
The decree on the miracle also describes preparations for this celebration in the parish of São Sebastião. The parish priest organized Mass for the anniversary of Acutis's death. Matheus's mother had begun a novena for her son's healing; relatives, acquaintances, and other parishioners joined in prayer. The immediate physical change occurred during Mass after he kissed the relic. The family then saw at home that Matheus could eat again.[3]
What the Follow-up Examinations Found
The pediatrician explained that later ultrasound examinations no longer showed the earlier malformation. The examinations before and after had been performed by the same examiner. The official decree on the miracle likewise records the absence of the anatomical anomaly at follow-up and sustained healthy growth. The medical examination thus concerned both the symptoms and the anatomical findings.[1][3]
From Campo Grande to Medical Assessment in Rome
The child, born in 2010, became the subject of a diocesan investigation held in Campo Grande in 2018. On November 14, 2019, the medical consultation assessed the recovery as scientifically unexplained. The decree of February 21, 2020, recognized the rapid, complete, and lasting healing for the beatification of Carlo Acutis.[3]
The local investigation lasted from April 24 to June 12, 2018. Its juridical validity was confirmed in Rome on March 15, 2019. The medical consultation in November was followed by the theologians' consultation on December 17; the cardinals and bishops considered the case on February 4, 2020. Both consultations concerning its miraculous nature ended favorably before the papally authorized decree was published.[3]
Physician, Family, and Official Document
The family chiefly describes the change in eating, growth, and life together with Matheus's brother Ângelo. The treating physician explains the medical history and subsequent examinations. The decree published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis records the medical and ecclesiastical assessment along with the dates of the proceedings.[1][2][3]
A Child's Request for Help
The family connected the visit to the relic with their prayer. The Church's judgment attributes the healing to God through Acutis's intercession. For Matheus, his restored health became apparent in something very concrete: he could eat, grow, and take part in family life without his previous constant symptoms.[2][3]
Witnesses & Investigators
Luciana Lins Vianna
Mother
Describes prayer, nutrition, and her son's daily life.[2]
Rosângela Maria Pereira Salgado
Treating pediatrician
Publicly recalls previous findings, treatments, and the later examinations.[1]
Elias Luis Vianna
Grandfather
Describes the celebration with his grandson in an interview.[2]
The unfolding story
- Birth
Year of birth according to the official decree.[3]
- Diagnostic Examinations
Instrumental examination of the congenital anomaly.[3]
- Recovery
Celebration in Campo Grande.[3]
- Diocesan Investigation
Examination in the Archdiocese of Campo Grande.[3]
- Medical Consultation
Favorable judgment according to the formal decree.[3]
- Decree on the Miracle
Recognition for the beatification.[3]
Ecclesiastical assessment
The decree on the miracle of February 21, 2020, recognizes a rapid, complete, and lasting healing of the Brazilian child. It was used for the beatification of Carlo Acutis.
Objections & Answers
Does this concern ordinary vomiting or an anatomical change?
The published medical statement concerns both. A previously diagnosed malformation was no longer detectable at follow-up, although the contemplated operation had not taken place. The condition involved an incomplete annular pancreas and narrowing of the duodenum, not the regrowth of a missing organ. The hospital testimony and the decree on the miracle describe the comparison of findings; not all original imaging data are published there.[1][3]
How are contradictory dates and ages handled?
The chronology follows the official decree: birth in 2010, instrumental diagnosis in 2012, and healing on October 12, 2013. A later brief biography from the Dicastery mistakenly gives 2023, although the event had already been investigated for the beatification in 2020. Conflicting ages in family accounts are therefore likewise not adopted over the earlier official document.[2][3][4]
Meaning for faith
Matheus became permanently free of his symptoms and developed normally. The treating physician and the official decree also describe the changed anatomical finding. The Church recognized the healing as a gift of God through Acutis's intercession.[1][3]
Examining Healings: From Findings to the Church's Judgment
Diagnosis, treatment, the course of healing, and ecclesiastical recognition are examined separately.
Methods of examination and ecclesiastical procedure →Sources & Evidence
Information on accessibility and scope helps you assess the evidence for yourself.
- [1] Beatificação de italiano tem ligação direta com o Humap
Interview with the treating pediatrician and family members; ages are not adopted over the official decree.
Open source · gov.br ↗ - [2] Uma história de fé e devoção
Family testimony; some editorial chronological details are contradictory.
Open source · vaticannews.va ↗ - [3] Assisiensis–Nucerina–Tadinensis: Decretum super miraculo, Caroli AcutisOpen source · press.vatican.va ↗
- [4] Carlo Acutis – Iter della causa
The summary contains an inconsistent year for the first healing case; the dossier follows AAS for the date.
Open source · causesanti.va ↗
