VATICAN (CNS): Pope Francis announced the establishment of a World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly on January 31, as a reminder of the important role they play as a link between generations.
During his Sunday Angelus address, the pope said the day will be celebrated every year on the fourth Sunday of July to coincide with the feast of Ss. Joachim and Anne, Jesus’ grandparents. The first celebration will be July 25.
“It is important for grandparents to meet their grandchildren and for grandchildren to meet their grandparents because—as the prophet Joel says—grandparents, before their grandchildren, will dream and have great desires and young people—taking strength from their grandparents—will go forward and prophesy,” he said.
Highlighting the February 2 feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the pope said the recognition of Christ as the Messiah by the elderly Simeon and Anna is a reminder that “the Holy Spirit still stirs up thoughts and words of wisdom in the elderly today.”
He said, “Their voice is precious because it sings the praises of God and safeguards the roots of peoples. They remind us that old age is a gift and that grandparents are the link between generations, passing on the experience of life and faith to the young.”
The pope added, “Grandparents are often forgotten and we forget this wealth of preserving roots and passing on.”
In a statement published shortly after the pope’s announcement, Kevin Cardinal Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, said the yearly event was “a gift to the whole Church” that emphasises the pastoral care of the elderly as “a priority that can no longer be postponed by any Christian community.”
The cardinal said, “In the encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, the Holy Father reminds us that no one is saved alone. With this in mind, we must treasure the spiritual and human wealth that has been handed down from generation to generation.”
Cardinal Farrell added that “today, more than ever, we are committed to making every effort to dismantle the throwaway culture and to enhance the charisms of grandparents and the elderly.”
The dicastery said Pope Francis would mark the first World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly on July 25 with an evening Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica “subject to sanitary regulations in place at the time.”
The dicastery said, “Closer to the world day, the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life will announce any further initiatives that will mark the event,” adding, “As of now, the dicastery is inviting parishes and dioceses around the world to celebrate this world day at the local level in ways that are suited to their pastoral context.
