World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

“I will never forget you”

Pope Leo’s Message for 2026

Share Pope Leo’s message for the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. You may read the document online on the Vatican website or download a printable document.

Read Online
(on vatican.va) PDF Document
 (download)

How often in Sacred Scripture, especially in the Psalms, does prayer spring from the despair of those who feel that their lives are of no interest to anyone and are being neglected! The painful feeling of being forgotten is, unfortunately, shared by many people, and among them are quite a few elderly people.

[T]he truth is that even in old age we do not cease to be sons and daughters [of God]; therefore, the invitation to return to the arms of God—whose love is both paternal and maternal—remains worthwhile at any age.

For many, the discovery of God’s tenderness takes place over the course of their lives, sometimes even in its final stages. Indeed, unlike in the past, it is increasingly common to reach old age without having had a genuine experience of faith. In such cases, old age—beginning with the questions that arise with greater urgency during this season of life—can become the right time to begin or resume a spiritual life.

The celebration of the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly 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. 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.

May the Lord always renew us in faith, hope and love—He who never forgets us!

From Pope Leo’s Message for the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, published June 15, 2026.

The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life at the Vatican in Rome provides resources to priests and parishes for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. In 2025, their web page for the Fifth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly contains the following resources:

• Prayer for the Fifth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
• Celebrating the Jubilee with the elderly unable to physically make the pilgrimage
• A Pastoral Kit (contains many of the ideas mentioned below)

The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life provided the following resources to priests and parishes for the first World Day in 2021. (Documents are formatted for A4 paper size, so when printing choose the “size-to-fit” option.)

• Cover letter from Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect
• Pastoral Guidelines. Contains:
  • A reflection on the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
    • the coronavirus pandemic
    • pastoral concern for older people
    • crisis in family relations
  • Suggestions for visiting grandparents and older people
  • Plenary Indulgence
• Liturgy Notes. Contains:
  • Dedicate one Mass on the Sunday of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly to a celebration with grandparents and elderly people of the community.
    • Encourage the presence of older people at the Mass.
    • Members of the community can organize transport for those who are unable to get there independently.
    • Young people from the parish can present the Holy Father's Message to grandparents and the elderly at the celebration.
    • The collection from the Masses for this World Day can be dedicated to supporting projects to help poor elderly people in the community.
  • Homily Notes (note: 2021 was “Year B” in the lectionary cycle, so the readings are different in 2022)
  • Suggestions for Prayers of the Faithful
  • Blessing on a Long Life

Catechesis on Old Age

Beginning in February 2022, Pope Francis’ Wednesday audience catecheses were reflections on old age. The catechesis of 18 talks is available online from the Vatican website. It has been compiled in a downloadable PDF document for those who do not have access to or prefer not to read the text online:

Pope Francis’ Catecheses
on Old Age

In 2021, Pope Francis established a “World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly” to take place each year on the fourth Sunday in July. This date was chosen because it is close to the feast day of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.

The bishops of the United States transferred the celebration to the first weekend after Labor Day in September to coincide with National Grandparents Day in the United States (see the USCCB website).

Fr. Jorge Bergoglio, the future Pope Francis, standing with his brother and sisters. Seated: Regina, his mother (on left), Giovanni and Rosa, his paternal grandparents (center), and Mario, his father (on right).