Dorota Abdelmoula-Viet – Vatican
This year it will be celebrated on the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Vatican News reports.
We publish the press release from the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, responsible on behalf of the Holy See for this event:
“I will not forget you” (Is 49:15) – this is the theme of the VI World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, chosen by Pope Leo XIV. It aims to emphasize that God’s love for every person never ceases, even in the fragility of old age.
The chosen verse, taken from the Book of Isaiah, contains a message of comfort and hope, addressed to all grandparents and the elderly, especially those who live in solitude or feel forgotten. At the same time, it is a call for families and ecclesial communities not to forget the elderly, appreciating their valuable presence and the blessing they are.
The World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly was established by Pope Francis in 2021 and is celebrated annually on the 4th Sunday of July. It is an invitation to show the elderly the closeness of the Church and to appreciate their importance for the life of families and communities. This year, the day of celebration coincides with the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, falling on Sunday, July 26. The Holy Father encourages that a Holy Mass, celebrated in the cathedral of each diocese, be included in the celebrations of this Day.
The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life invites particular Churches, communities, and ecclesial associations around the world to prepare worthy celebrations of this Day, according to their specific characteristics. To assist in this, appropriate pastoral materials will soon be made available.
