VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV has chosen the theme “I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15) for the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, according to a statement from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

Established by Pope Francis in 2021, the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly is observed every fourth Sunday of July. The celebration aims to express the Church’s closeness to older persons and to highlight their vital role in families and communities.

This year, the observance falls on Sunday, July 26, coinciding with the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.

The Holy Father has invited the faithful to mark the occasion with a Eucharistic celebration in the cathedral church of each diocese.

The chosen biblical verse from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah offers a message of consolation and hope, particularly for grandparents and elderly people who experience loneliness or feel forgotten.

It also serves as a reminder to families and Church communities to value the elderly as a precious presence and a blessing.

Through this theme, the Pope underscores that God’s love for every person remains constant, even in the fragility that can come with old age.

The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life has encouraged local Churches, associations, and ecclesial communities worldwide to organize activities to celebrate the Day within their own contexts.

Pastoral resources to support these efforts will be released in the coming weeks.