Preparations for the second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly are underway

After the announcement of the theme chosen by the Holy Father, "In old age they will still bear fruit" (Ps. 92:14), the work for the preparation of the second edition of World Day for Grandparents and Elderly has come to life.

The Dicastery chose to carry out, as a first step, a consultation with the episcopal conferences and associations most committed to the pastoral care of the elderly. As Fr. Awi Mello, Secretary of the Dicastery, said in his introduction to the meeting: "This is a non-formal listening process, which is precious for us because the Dicastery does not engage in direct pastoral activity and therefore needs constant dialogue with those who are engaged in the field.

Many of the participants in the meeting recalled how the first edition of the Day was a moment of great joy for the elderly who received the Pope's message and of extroversion for the younger ones who went to deliver it.

The second edition of the Day will be less limited by the health emergency and will allow for a greater number of initiatives. It was pointed out that the two urgent issues facing the pastoral care of the elderly are the loneliness of a large number of elderly and the need to give a Christian meaning to a season of life that until a few years ago was the privilege of a few to live.