Pope Francis highlights hope for fifth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
Pope Francis meets with elderly and sick people on his final day in Singapore on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, marking the conclusion of his 12-day, four-country apostolic journey to Asia and Oceania — the longest trip of his pontificate to date. / Credit: Vatican Media Vatican City, Feb 6, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Pope Francis has chosen “Blessed Are Those Who Have Not Lost Hope” as the theme for the fifth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which will be celebrated this year on Sunday, July 27.
According to a statement from the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, the Holy Father wanted to highlight the hope of the elderly in the final stage of their lives.
These words, taken from the Book of Sirach, “express the blessedness of the elderly and indicate hope placed in the Lord as the way to a Christian and reconciled old age,” the statement explains.
In the context of the jubilee year, this day, established by Pope Francis in 2021, takes on a new meaning as it intends to be “an opportunity to reflect on how the presence of grandparents and the elderly can become a sign of hope in every family and church community,” according to the Vatican.
The Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life “renews to everyone Pope Francis’ invitation to celebrate the occasion in every diocese and to dedicate the celebrations of Sunday, July 27, to the elderly, promoting visits and opportunities for encounters between the generations.”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
