World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly

July 25, 2021

Happy is the family who have grandparents close by!

Pope Francis' Message for the First World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

In a video message, Pope Francis tells the elderly that God is always with them and reassures them that the Lord sends his angels to comfort them in their loneliness. Download additional resources below.

Message of Pope Francis (printable version)

Message of Pope Francis

Prayer for the First World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Pastoral Guidelines

Liturgy Notes

Words from Pope Francis

Videomensaje de papa Francisco

Mensaje del Papa Francisco con motivo de la Jornada Mundial de los Abuelos y de las personas Mayores. Descargue recursos adicionales a continuación.

Mensaje del papa Francisco (para imprimir)

Mensaje del papa Francisco

Oración para la Primera Jornada Mundial de los Abuelos y de los Mayores

Indicaciones pastorales

Apoyo litúrgico

Palabras del papa Francisco

Mensagem em vídeo do papa Francisco

O Papa anunciou nesta terça-feira a Mensagem para o Dia Mundial dos Avós e dos Idosos que será celebrado no próximo dia 25 de julho. Baixe recursos adicionais abaixo.

Mensagem do Papa Francisco (para impressão)

Mensagem do Papa Francisco

Oração pelo Primeiro Dia Mundial dos Avós e dos Idosos

Indicações pastorais

Subsídios litúrgicos

Palavras do Papa Francisco

Blessings from Pope Francis

Pope Francis Blessing Card #1

"I am with you always" are the words that I, as Bishop of Rome and an elderly person like yourselves, would like to address to you on this first World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly: the whole Church is close to you - to us - and cares about you, loves you and does not want to leave you alone!

English   Spanish   Portuguese

Pope Francis Blessing Card #2

That is the meaning of this Day, which I wanted to celebrate for the first time in this particular year: may every older person, especially those among us who are most alone, receive the visit of an angel!



English   Spanish   Portuguese

Pope Francis Blessing Card #3

Dear Grandfather and Grandmother, at this crucial moment in history, you have a renewed vocation. You may wonder: how can this be possible? Isn't my solitude already a sufficiently heavy burden? It can happen, the Lord replies, if we open our hearts to the working of the Holy Spirit!

English   Spanish   Portuguese

Pope Francis Blessing Card #3

Dear Grandfather and Grandmother, the Lord's closeness will grant to all, even the frailest among us, the strength needed to embark on a new journey along the path of dreams, memory and prayer.

English   Spanish   Portuguese

Year of the Family

March 19, 2021 - June 26, 2022

On 19 March 2021, the fifth anniversary of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, on the joy and beauty of familial love, Pope Francis will inaugurate the Year “Amoris Laetitia Family,” which will conclude on 26 June 2022 on the occasion of the X World Meeting of Families in Rome. The Holy Father will be present for the Meeting.

Learn More