Pope Leo XIV’s Message on the occasion of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

No one is forgotten by God. Pope Leo XIV’s message on the occasion of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly was published today; the sixth edition of this event will be celebrated on Sunday, July 26, 2026.

In the text, the Holy Father reminds us that the Lord knows each of our faces and that his love never fails, not even in the frailty of old age. The Day, writes Pope Leo XIV, « is an opportunity to rediscover that the Church is called to be a mother to all and that at any age it is always possible to recognize ourselves as sons and daughters of God ». Addressing the elderly directly, the Pope encourages them not to fear weakness – « do not be afraid of fragility! » – and to recognize in it a true vocation to prayer and reconciliation, asking them to pray earnestly « that peace may soon come to the whole world ».

A pastoral resource for communities around the world

To mark the release of the Message, the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life is making a pastoral kit available to support dioceses, parishes, congregations, and associations around the world in celebrating the occasion. The resource - which contains the Holy Father’s Message, the official prayer, pastoral guidelines, a liturgical resource, and the Day’s logo - offers tools and practical suggestions for putting into practice the desire expressed by the Pope in the Message: « May this day, therefore, be an inspiration for everyone, especially the young, to revive the beautiful custom of visiting their grandparents, the elderly members of the family and even those who have no one to visit them. Bring them, through this message and your presence, the closeness and affection of the Pope. Ensure that the words of the prophet, “But I will never forget you,” take the form of a tender and affectionate encounter.».

A celebration of the Eucharist and a visit to elderly people living alone

As is customary, it is proposed that the celebration of the Day be structured around two fundamental gestures: a Eucharistic liturgy dedicated to the elderly, and, a visit to the loneliest members of one’s community, to whom the Holy Father’s Message should be delivered along with a tangible sign of closeness. In this sixth edition, particular emphasis is placed on reaching out to those who live alone and those who receive no visitors: when visiting a facility, it is recommended to also reach out to the elderly who are bedridden in their rooms, so that no one misses the message of consolation that the Day aims to convey.

The option to reschedule the celebration date

The resource also notes the Holy Father’s provision, which has already been communicated to all episcopal conferences: the usual date for celebrating the Day remains the fourth Sunday of July, close to the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus; however, if specific pastoral needs so suggest, the episcopal conferences have the authority to move the celebration to a different date. In each diocese, the bishop is invited to celebrate the Day in the cathedral.

Farrell: At every age, we are children, living members of the Christian community

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, lastly invites the elderly to celebrate the Day in the joy of feeling like children loved by God, and emphasizes that “rediscovering oneself as a child at every age is a call for all the elderly to deepen their vocation and to feel—in every season of life—that they are living members of the Christian community and co-responsible for its mission”.

Resources to share to promote the Day in local churches

The pastoral kit is available on the website of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life. All materials are freely downloadable and are useful for sharing and promoting the Day in preparation for celebrations in parishes and dioceses, at the local, national, or international level.

The Dicastery also invites communities to publicize the initiatives organized for the occasion by writing to anziani@laityfamilylife.va or sharing them on social media with the hashtag #Elderlyandgrandparents.