Pope Francis is urging families around the world to remain close to grandparents and elderly family members, imploring loved ones to spend time with older relatives who may be facing “solitude and abandonment.”
In his message for World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, released May 14, the pope noted that the Bible contains numerous examples of the “fear of abandonment, particularly in old age and in times of pain.” The theme for this year’s World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, which falls on July 28, is “Do Not Cast Me Off in My Old Age,” a reference to Psalm 71.
“All too often, loneliness is the bleak companion of our lives as elderly persons and grandparents,” the pope said.
He noted that when serving as archbishop of Buenos Aires, “I would visit rest homes and realize how rarely those people received visits. Some had not seen their family members for many months.”
One prejudice against the old, the Holy Father argued, is the claim that they “rob the young of their future.”
“There is now a widespread conviction that the elderly are burdening the young with the high cost of the social services that they require, and in this way are diverting resources from the development of the community and thus from the young,” the pope wrote.
“This is a distorted perception of reality. It assumes that the survival of the elderly puts that of the young at risk, that to favor the young, it is necessary to neglect or even suppress the elderly.”
Citing the biblical example of Ruth remaining by Naomi’s side in the latter’s old age, the Holy Father urged families, “Let us show our tender love for the grandparents and the elderly members of our families.”
“Let us spend time with those who are disheartened and no longer hope in the possibility of a different future,” he wrote.
“In place of the self-centered attitude that leads to loneliness and abandonment, let us instead show the open heart and the joyful face of men and women who have the courage to say ‘I will not abandon you’ and to set out on a different path.”
In a statement released with the pope’s message, Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, which organizes the world day, lamented the “bitter companion” that is loneliness in the lives of elderly people.
“Attending to our grandparents and the elderly,” he said, “is not only a sign of gratitude and affection, but a necessity in the construction of a more human and fraternal society.”
The cardinal’s message was also accompanied by pastoral guidelines and liturgical resources for parishes and dioceses. The guidelines suggest that Catholics visit the elderly people within their own community, share with them the pope’s message and pray together.
The document said that to involve the elderly in the day, “older people can be asked to offer special prayers for young people and for peace.”
“The ministry of intercession is a real vocation of the elderly,” it said.
Catholic News Service contributed to this report.
What You Can Do
The Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life suggests the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, which this year is July 28, be structured around the celebration of a Eucharistic liturgy dedicated to the elderly, and the visitation of those within one’s own community. Following are pastoral guidelines for parishes and individuals alike:
• Pay a visit to elderly people within your own community. Share with them the Holy Father’s 2024 message, or read and discern it together.
• To facilitate the presence of the elderly at the day’s Mass, organize transport for those who are unable to travel alone.
• Call the young people of your parish community a few weeks before the day, explain its significance and encourage them to attend Mass.
• Organize a meeting to hear the testimonies of grandparents and the elderly.
• Plan social campaigns to spread World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly events, news,
photos and more by using the hashtag #elderlyandgrandparents.
For more information, go to laityfamilylife.va and tinyurl.com/vtrvwrwr.
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
