Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed care and closeness to elderly people, highlighting God’s promise: “I will never forget you.”
Newsroom (15/06/2026 Gaudium Press )The Vatican has released Pope Leo XIV’s message for the Sixth World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, to be observed on the fourth Sunday of July. Centered on the theme “I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15), the message offers a deeply pastoral reflection on aging, human dignity, and the enduring closeness of God.
Drawing from the prophet Isaiah, the Pope underscores a powerful divine assurance: that no person is ever forgotten. He recalls the scriptural image of God who “has engraved our faces on the palms of his hands,” and whose love surpasses even that of a mother for her child. These words, the Pope writes, are not abstract, but directed to every individual, serving as a personal affirmation of worth and belonging.
Addressing the Pain of Being Forgotten
At the heart of the message lies a recognition of a widespread human experience—feeling forgotten or abandoned. The Pope echoes the lament found in Scripture: “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” This anguish, he notes, remains particularly acute among elderly people, many of whom endure loneliness or social marginalization.
He describes how modern life can obscure the identity of older individuals, especially in care facilities or isolated living situations where people risk being reduced to anonymity. In such environments, the uniqueness of each person is often overshadowed, leaving them feeling invisible or neglected.
Against this backdrop, the Pope presents God’s unwavering memory as an act of justice—an affirmation that every life retains value and meaning, regardless of age or condition.
A Call to Personal Encounter and Human Connection
The annual celebration of the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, the Pope emphasizes, is an invitation to restore genuine human connections. He calls on younger generations in particular to revive the tradition of visiting grandparents and elderly individuals, including those who have no family to support them.
In an era shaped by rapid digital communication, the message warns that technology cannot replace authentic human closeness. While digital culture expands opportunities for connection, the human heart continues to seek “attentive minds, kind words and hands capable of tenderness.”
The Pope encourages individuals to embody the message of Isaiah through concrete acts of presence and affection, transforming abstract promises into lived experiences of care and solidarity.
The Church’s Awareness of Social Realities
The message also reflects a broader awareness of the social conditions affecting the elderly. The Church, the Pope writes, understands the challenges they face—being stereotyped, treated as burdens, or left behind due to economic pressures and migration.
He points to structural realities, such as profit-driven systems and fractured family ties, that contribute to the isolation of older adults. In response, the Church reaffirms its role as a spiritual mother, called to embrace individuals at every stage of life and proclaim the enduring promise: “But I will never forget you.”
Rediscovering Faith in Later Life
A significant portion of the message is dedicated to the spiritual dimension of aging. The Pope highlights that, increasingly, many people reach old age without having experienced a deep relationship with God. Yet he frames this not as a loss, but as an opportunity.
Old age, he suggests, can become a time to begin or renew a spiritual journey. Drawing on the teachings of Saint Augustine, he describes God’s tenderness as nurturing and protective, inviting individuals to approach Him with trust and humility.
Importantly, the Pope stresses that it is never too late to turn toward faith. Even in fragility, individuals remain sons and daughters of God, capable of growth, reconciliation, and renewed purpose.
Embracing Fragility as a Path to Peace
Addressing elderly people directly, the Pope refers to them as a “new people,” reflecting the unprecedented global rise in aging populations. He urges them not to fear fragility, but to recognize it as a source of new potential.
According to the message, acknowledging human weakness can open hearts to mutual support and deepen the search for reconciliation. This disposition, he argues, offers an alternative to the cycles of power and conflict that mark contemporary society.
In a world affected by war and unrest, the Pope calls on elderly individuals to take on a spiritual role—praying earnestly for peace and contributing to the moral renewal of society.
A Message of Gratitude and Hope
The message concludes with a note of gratitude for the prayers of the elderly, particularly those who recite the Rosary daily. In return, the Pope offers a prayer that God may renew all people in faith, hope, and love.
Ultimately, the message presents aging not as a period of decline, but as a meaningful stage of life marked by dignity, spiritual potential, and a continuing role within the community. Through the simple yet profound promise—“I will never forget you”—Pope Leo XIV offers reassurance to a generation often overlooked, affirming that every life remains seen, valued, and loved.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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