Vatican invites to celebrate grandparents and the elderly in the squares of the world

La santa misa presidida por el Papa Francisco el domingo 23 de julio a las 10:00 de la mañana en la Basílica de San Pedro será el corazón de la III Jornada Mundial de los Abuelos y de los Mayores, que tiene por lema "Su misericordia se extiende de generación en generación" (Lc 1, 50). Lo informa el Dicasterio para los Laicos, la Familia y la Vida in a statement published this Wednesday, July 19, 4 days after the celebration. More than 6,000 people will attend, including many elderly people from all over Italy: grandparents accompanied by their grandchildren and families, the elderly living in residences, as well as many older people engaged in parish, diocesan and associative life.

At the end of the Eucharist, five older people - representing the five continents - will symbolically deliver the WYD Pilgrim Cross to five young people who are leaving for Lisbon, signifying the transmission of the faith from generation to generation.

"El gesto del envío quiere representar también el compromiso que los ancianos y los abuelos han aceptado, por invitación del Santo Padre, de rezar por los jóvenes que parten y de acompañarles con su bendición", añade el texto. A todos los participantes en la celebración en San Pedro, la diócesis de Roma entregará la oración de la III Jornada Mundial y Pope Francis' message to grandparents and the elderly.

The Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life invites once again to celebrate the date in all the dioceses of the world with a Mass dedicated to them and visiting the elderly who are alone. Also remember that a plenary indulgence will be granted to those who perform these gestures, according to a decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary released on July 5.

"En este sentido, dos ejemplos de celebraciones, entre las muchas que tendrán lugar en el mundo, son la de la Conferencia Episcopal Brasileña, que celebrará una misa con los ancianos en el Sanctuary of Aparecida and that of the Canadian Bishops' Conference, which has released a video inviting young people to visit the elderly in residences", explica el Dicasterio.

The Lisbon WYD Local Organizing Committee joined the invitation of Pope Francis, launching two initiatives: queridosavos.pt - to promote a prayer chain of grandparents and elders to accompany the young people who leave for Lisbon - and a challenge on social networks inviting all young people to visit their grandparents before the day and take a photo or video with them.

Let's not leave the elderly alone, their presence is valuable

En su mensaje para la Jornada de este año, Francisco invita a pasar de la imaginación a la realización de un gesto concreto para abrazar a los abuelos y a los ancianos. "No los dejemos solos, su presencia en las familias y en las comunidades es valiosa, nos da la conciencia de compartir la misma herencia y de formar parte de un pueblo en el que se conservan las raíces", escribe el Santo Padre.

“Yes, it is the elders who transmit to us belonging to the holy People of God. Both the Church and society need them. They deliver to the present a necessary past to build the future. Let us honor them, let us not deprive ourselves of their company and let us not deprive them of ours; let us not allow them to be discarded.”