The universal Church is preparing with great joy to celebrate the Fifth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Instituted in 2021 by Pope Francis, this special day is rapidly becoming a cherished tradition, highlighting the vital role of older generations within the life of the Church and society.
The theme for this year’s celebration, “Blessed are those who have not lost hope” (cf. Sir 14:2), draws inspiration from the Jubilee of Hope, and places the elderly not only at the heart of pastoral concern but also as witnesses of hope and protagonists of ecclesial life.
In his Message for the Day, Pope Leo XIV reflected deeply on the spiritual significance of the elderly, writing:
“God teaches us that, in his eyes, old age is a time of blessing and grace, and that the elderly are, for him, the first witnesses of hope… Everyone, always, can love and pray… In this way, we will be signs of hope, whatever our age.”
The Holy Father emphasized the importance of reaching out to elderly people who are lonely or forgotten, noting that visiting them becomes a true “pilgrimage to Christ” and an act that can obtain the Jubilee Indulgence during this Holy Year.
The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life has released a Pastoral Kit and a liturgical rite to be used in facilities where the elderly live, enabling them to spiritually participate in the Jubilee even if they cannot travel. These materials, as well as the official logo, are freely available for use on the Dicastery’s website: www.laityfamilylife.va.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery, and Bishop Dario Gervasi, its Secretary, expressed their hope that this Day will “renew dialogue between generations, strengthen bonds of solidarity, and witness that the Church is a welcoming home for all, especially the most fragile.”
Parishes, dioceses, and groups around the world are invited to share their initiatives via email at anziani@laityfamilylife.va or on social media using the hashtag #ElderlyandGrandparents.
This World Day is more than a celebration — it is a call to a “revolution of gratitude and care”, a chance to recognize that the elderly are not only part of our past, but essential to our present and future. Let us walk alongside them in faith, love, and hope.
