At a special celebration at the Vatican on Sunday, Pope Francis hailed the value of grandparents and other elderly to society.
“Old age, in particular, is a time of grace,” said Pope Francis, “in which the Lord will renew His call: He calls us to preserve and transmit the faith, calls us to pray, especially to intercede; calls us to be close to those who maybe in need.” He added that when the elderly – especially grandparents – pray in times of difficulty, “their prayer is strong. It is powerful.”
Regarding homes for the elderly the Pope stated, “. . . we welcome the houses for the elderly … so that they can truly be homes, not prisons! We hope that these homes will truly serve the interests of older persons and not the interests of someone else! There must never be institutions where the elderly are forgotten, hidden or neglected. I feel close to the many elderly people who live in these institutions, and I think with gratitude of those who go to visit them and take care of them.”
For a full translation of the Pope’s remarks, click here.
Pope Francis Celebrates Contributions of the Elderly