Fr. Elissandro Marcelo Caldas, the pastor of Toronto's St. Norbert’s Parish, received the unexpected honour to accompany a holy relic of St. Carlo Acutis from Assisi, Italy, to St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica.

Before departing for Rome, joined by 30 Catholic pilgrims, Caldas was asked by Cardinal Frank Leo to bring back this Ex capillis (from his hair) relic to Toronto’s cathedral church.

“We felt immensely blessed by this opportunity,” said Caldas, who also serves as director of Radio Maria Canada. “We didn't plan anything of this, but it was amazing, wonderful and a gift, yes, a gift from God for each one of us.”

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Connaissance Travel and Tours, a leading Canadian Catholic pilgrimage agency, organized this journey to Rome that was spiritually guided by Caldas and Fr. Efren Alvarez-Pelayo, a priest in residence at St. Norbert’s for the first half of 2026.

Vincent Veerasuntharam, Connaissance’s CEO, told The Catholic Register that it “is a moving tribute to Canada” for the group to be entrusted with the relic. He also shared that it was “a beautiful and moving experience” to celebrate Mass in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi with the Acutis relic on the altar. Caldas ended the service by blessing the relic.

The pilgrimage group was present in Assisi on Jan. 10 to experience the 800th anniversary commemorations of St. Francis’ passing and to observe the remains of the Catholic friar, St. Clare of Assisi and Acutis. It was striking for Caldas to see the late Acutis, the millennial who created a website to catalogue Eucharistic miracles throughout history.

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“Carlo is more actual,” said Caldas. “He is more contemporary. He’s completely different. He's more exciting in the sense that he is there lying down, wearing his sneakers and dressed as any teenager.

“But he is a declared saint, and his life is very full of signs of holiness. It was very touching, and he showed that holiness is possible. Holiness is close to us, and we have to spread this news to our youth and help them to dream about holiness.”

Accompanying the Toronto pilgrims to Rome from Jan. 4 to 14 was a last-minute blessing for Caldas. He said it was valuable to share insight with the sojourners about how hard it used to be for people to reach Rome in previous eras. Walking was required for days, sometimes months, along the old roads.

This was the first time Caldas led a group to the City of Seven Hills. The timing also proved fortuitous as the group was present for the closing ceremony of St. Peter’s Basilica Holy Door on the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord.

Before the ceremony, each pilgrim passed through and touched the Holy Door. They were accorded more meaningful time than so many of the millions of people who visited in 2025.

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“During the Jubilee (Year of Hope), the line was so long that many people were passing through the door, so people couldn't stop much there,” said Caldas. “But our group, we could stop. We could touch the door for a few minutes and pray."

An official announcement about the St. Carlo Acutis relic’s presence at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica is forthcoming from the Archdiocese of Toronto, along with details about any potential liturgical celebrations.