Pope chooses theme to honour grandparents and the elderly

To express the closeness of God and of the Church to every older person, Pope Francis has chosen I am with you always from the Gospel of Matthew as the theme for the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Apr 24, 2021

VATICAN: To express the closeness of  God and of the Church to every older person, Pope Francis has chosen I am with you  always from the Gospel of Matthew as the  theme for the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

The theme for the celebration July 25 is  especially appropriate “in these challenging pandemic times,” said the announcement from the Dicastery for Laity, the  Family and Life.

“I am with you always is also a promise of closeness and hope that the young  and the old can mutually share. Not only  are grandchildren and young people called  upon to be present in the lives of older people, but older people and grandparents also  have a mission of evangelisation, proclamation and prayer, and of encouraging  young people in their faith,” the statement  said.

Pope Francis announced in late January  that he was establishing the World Day for  Grandparents and the Elderly, which is to  be celebrated each year on the fourth Sunday of July to coincide with the feast of Sts  Joachim and Anne, Jesus’ grandparents.

Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, prefect of the  dicastery, had said the annual event would  be “a gift to the whole Church” and one  that emphasises the pastoral care of the elderly as “a priority that can no longer be  postponed by any Christian community.”

“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,” he said.

Pope Francis is expected to mark the day  with an evening Mass in St Peter’s Basilica. ––CNS

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