Ahead of the upcoming celebration of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on July 27, Pope Leo XIV has shared a heartfelt message of encouragement and hope for older persons around the world.

This special day, established by the late Pope Francis, is distinct from the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons, which is observed annually on October 1. The Church’s celebration aims to honor the invaluable presence, wisdom, and witness of the elderly within families and communities.

Opening his message with a reflection on the Jubilee Year, the Holy Father reminded the faithful that “hope is a constant source of joy, whatever our age.” He drew inspiration from Scripture, highlighting how God worked through elderly figures such as Abraham and Sarah, Moses, and Zechariah, all of whom were surprised by divine intervention late in life. “God repeatedly demonstrates his providential care by turning to people in their later years,” he said.

Pope Leo underscored that these biblical examples show how “God thus teaches us that, in his eyes, old age is a time of blessing and grace, and that the elderly are, for him, the first witnesses of hope.”

Noting the growing elderly population around the globe, the Pope called it “a sign of the times that we are called to discern, in order to properly interpret this moment of history.” He urged people to recognize the deeper value of aging and the importance of embracing the elderly in society.

“Embracing the elderly helps us to understand that life is more than just the present moment, and should not be wasted in superficial encounters and fleeting relationships. Instead, life is constantly pointing us toward the future,” he reflected.

The Holy Father also emphasized the mutual need between generations. “If it is true that the weakness of the elderly needs the strength of the young, it is equally true that the inexperience of the young needs the witness of the elderly in order to build the future with wisdom.”

He paid tribute to grandparents, acknowledging the vital role many have played in shaping lives. “How often our grandparents have been for us examples of faith and devotion, civic virtue and social commitment, memory and perseverance amid trials! The precious legacy that they have handed down to us with hope and love will always be a source of gratitude and a summons to perseverance,” he said.

In the spirit of the Jubilee Year, Pope Leo called on the faithful “to break through the barriers of indifference …” and to actively combat the isolation and loneliness often experienced by older people.

“Our societies, everywhere in the world, are growing all too accustomed to letting this significant and enriching part of their life be marginalized and forgotten,” he lamented.

With this message, Pope Leo XIV once again places the elderly at the heart of the Church’s mission—a call to cherish, accompany, and learn from them as vital bearers of hope and faith.