VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Francis has set an annual date to honor grandparents and other elders, regretting that they are often overlooked, despite the wisdom they have to offer to society.
On Sunday, Francis announced that every year, on the fourth Sunday of July, the Roman Catholic Church will pay tribute to the elderly who have “thoughts and words of wisdom” to offer.
This year, Francis will celebrate a special mass in honor of them on the night of July 25, if pandemic restrictions permit, the Vatican said. In usual comments from Sunday at noon, Francisco noted that each year, on July 26, the church honors Saints Ana and Joaquim, parents of Jesus’ mother, Maria.
Grandparents, said Francisco, transmit experiences of “life and faith” to young people.
The pope, who is 84 and is a frequent supporter of grandparents in his comments about their value to society, cited the “thoughts and words of wisdom” of older adults.
“Their voice is precious because they sing praises to God and preserve the roots of the peoples,” said Francisco of the Library of the Apostolic Palace, instead of a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square to discourage the crowds from gathering in pandemic COVID-19.
“They remind us that old age is a gift and that grandparents are the ring that unites generations, to transmit to young people the experience of life and faith,” said the pope.
“Grandparents are so often forgotten, and we forget this wealth of safeguarding and transmitting roots,” said Francisco.
“It is important for grandparents to find grandchildren and grandchildren to find grandparents,” said Francis. He added that “grandparents will dream, they will have great wishes in relation to their grandchildren, and young people, drawing strength from their grandparents, will go forward”.