Pope Leo XIV unveils the motto “I will never forget you” for the 6th World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, highlighting God’s enduring love.
Newsroom (10/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV has chosen the biblical verse “I will never forget you” (Is 49:15) as the guiding motto for the 6th World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, the Vatican announced Tuesday through the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. The theme, drawn from the Book of Isaiah, underscores an enduring message central to Christian faith: that God’s love does not waver, even amid the challenges and frailty of advancing age.
According to the Dicastery’s statement, the motto serves as both a spiritual assurance and a social call to awareness. It invites the Church to remember that every person, regardless of age or circumstance, remains held in the memory and care of God. The message is intended particularly for older people who live alone or feel forgotten, offering words of comfort and hope to those facing solitude.
At the same time, the Holy See’s announcement reiterates that the Day is not only about remembrance but also about recognition—an encouragement for families and faith communities to value the elderly as active witnesses of faith and carriers of wisdom. “They are not a past to be celebrated once a year,” the statement suggests, “but a living presence that continues to bless the life of the Church.”
Honoring a Day Dedicated to Life’s Elders
Instituted by Pope Francis in 2021, the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly takes place each year on the fourth Sunday of July. The observance provides an opportunity for the Church to express its closeness to older generations and to affirm their continuing contributions to family and community life.
This year’s celebration will be held on Sunday, July 26, coinciding once again with the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, honored as the grandparents of Jesus. In keeping with tradition, Pope Leo XIV has invited the faithful to participate in a special Mass at the cathedral of their diocese. The Holy Father views this liturgical observance as a visible sign of communion, faith, and gratitude toward those who have sustained the Church across generations.
Invitation to the Global Church
In its accompanying message, the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life urged dioceses, religious associations, and Catholic communities worldwide to organize events and pastoral initiatives suited to their local circumstances. To support these efforts, the Vatican office announced that it would provide specific pastoral materials designed to help diocesan leaders prepare and implement activities around the Day’s theme.
By extending this invitation, Pope Leo XIV and the Dicastery hope to strengthen intergenerational ties within parishes and families, turning remembrance into participation, and affection into action. The World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly remains a call to see not just the passage of time, but the sacred continuity of faith that binds generations together — a reminder, in the words of the Prophet Isaiah, that no one is ever forgotten in the heart of God.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
Related Images:
