Without dialogue between young people and grandparents, history does not move forward

Pope Francis, who was unable to attend the liturgy in St. Peter's in person, wanted to personally greet the grandparents and elderly who had just participated in the celebration of the first Day dedicated to them and who were still holding in their hands the flowers and the message delivered to them by the youth at the end of the celebration.  He invited them - and all the grandparents throughout the world - to give them a round of applause.

The Pope, speaking after the Angelus, urged people to continue to live the Day in each and every church community by visiting the elderly, those most lonely, and conveying to them the message "I am with you always."

After expressing his wish: "that this feast may help those of us who are older to respond to His call in this season of life" he underlined the value – for the good of the whole society – that grandparents and youth find more and more opportunities of encounter. This is a fundamental challenge for our culture, so much so that the Pope stated that: "Without dialogue between young people and grandparents, history does not move forward, life does not move forward!"