Each year, on the fourth Sunday of July—close to the feast of Joachim and Ann, the grandparents of Jesus—the Church celebrates the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. In 2025, this celebration holds even greater meaning as we mark it in the context of the Jubilee Year—a time of grace, renewal, and hope.
This year’s theme, drawn from the Book of Sirach—“Blessed are those who have not lost hope” (Sir 14:2)—echoes deeply through the message of Pope Leo XIV for the 5th annual celebration. In his words, we find a stirring reminder: our elders are not merely witnesses to the past, but living signs of hope for the future.
Hope Is Ageless
Pope Leo reminds us that “hope is a constant source of joy, whatever our age.” The elderly—whose lives are often tempered by trials and triumphs—carry a hope that is rich with experience and resilience. Whether it's the quiet strength of a grandmother praying for her family or the steady faith of a grandfather who has weathered life’s storms, their hope is a powerful light for all of us.
Scripture overflows with stories of God calling the elderly into His saving plan: Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Zechariah and Elizabeth. Even in advanced years, God’s promise remains active. These stories are not relics—they are reminders that God is never done with us. Old age is not an ending, but a season of grace, fruitfulness, and mission.
A Call to Compassion
In today’s fast-paced culture, the elderly are often overlooked. Yet the Pope calls us to a “revolution of gratitude and care.” This isn’t just poetic language—it’s a challenge to all of us.
Visiting the elderly, especially those who are alone, is more than a kind gesture; it’s a pilgrimage to Christ himself. Pope Leo encourages us to reach out, form relationships, pray with and for our elders, and offer them the dignity and belonging they deserve. In a beautiful invitation extended during this Jubilee Year, even those unable to make the pilgrimage to Rome can receive the Jubilee Indulgence by spending time with a lonely elderly person—“a pilgrimage to Christ present in them.”
Let’s not underestimate the power of a simple visit, a heartfelt phone call, or a handwritten letter. Love, presence, and connection are healing sacraments in their own right.
The Gift of the Elderly to the Young
In a world that often values novelty over wisdom, the Church reminds us that the journey of generations is sacred. Young people, Pope Leo writes, need the elderly’s stories of faith, perseverance, and hope. Our grandparents are often our first teachers of prayer, our living archives of family and community history, and quiet pillars of devotion.
As Pope Leo reflects, “If it is true that the weakness of the elderly needs the strength of the young, it is equally true that the inexperience of the young needs the witness of the elderly in order to build the future with wisdom.” This reciprocal need calls us to bridge generations—not through duty, but through love and a shared desire to nourish generations to come.
A Blessing for All Seasons
For grandparents and elderly persons themselves, this day is also a reminder: you are not forgotten. You are not invisible. You are not alone. You are part of God’s story, still being written, still bearing fruit.
Even if health fades or mobility slows, the Pope encourages the elderly to embrace their deepest freedom—the freedom to love and to pray. This is not passive endurance, but active discipleship. Prayer, affection, and faithful presence are spiritual gifts that bear fruit in every season of life.
Celebrating in Community
On this World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, let us:
- Thank our grandparents and elders for the love and wisdom they share
- Visit those who are alone or isolated, offering presence as a gift
- Reflect on the stories and faith handed down to us
- Pray in gratitude for the hope that radiates from older generations
- And most of all, build bridges across generations—so that together, young and old, we may move forward in hope
May our Church and communities become places where no one grows old alone, and where every elder is seen as a blessing, cherished and heard.
In the words of Pope Leo, “May we always praise God for his goodness, cultivate unity with our loved ones, open our hearts to those who are far away and, in particular, to all those in need. In this way, we will be signs of hope, whatever our age.”
Read Fr. David John’s poem “Searching for You; A Journey of Hope” that he wrote for the fifth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.
