Advertisement

World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

From left to right: St. Thomas More, St. Helena,  St. Louis IX, St. Monica, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. / Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain

Five Saints Who Were Grandparents 

Jul 28, 2024

As the Catholic Church celebrates the World Day of Grandparents, initiated by Pope Francis in 2021, we look to the example of 5 saints who had grandchildren.

Some 6,000 grandparents and other older people attended the papal Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on July 23, 2023, for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. / Credit: Pablo Esparza/EWTN

World Day of Grandparents: Vatican Grants Plenary Indulgence for Visiting the Elderly

Jul 18, 2024

Those who are grandparents or elderly themselves can also receive a plenary indulgence.

Pope Francis greets an elderly couple at a general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis to Meet with Thousands of Grandparents and their Grandchildren at the Vatican

Apr 22, 2024

Pope Francis will meet with elderly people, grandparents, and grandchildren from Italy this Saturday, April 27, in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.

Pope Francis greets an elderly couple at his general audience on Jan. 11, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly Highlights "loneliness," "throwaway culture"

Feb 15, 2024

The theme for the fourth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which will be celebrated on July 28, has been chosen by Pope Francis.

Pope Francis blesses a woman in St. Peter's Basilica, where he presided over a special papal Mass on July 23, 2023, marking the third annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. | Vatican Media

Pope Francis Celebrates World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Jul 23, 2023

Calling for “a new bond between the young and old,” Pope Francis marked the third annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly with an intergenerational Mass Sunday in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis is flanked by a grandmother and grandson during his Angelus reflection on July 23, 2023, in honor of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. | Vatican Media

A Beautiful Prayer You Can Say on the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2023

Jul 23, 2023

The third annual World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly is observed on July 23, 2023.

Pope Francis presides over a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on July 23, 2023, for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. | Pablo Esparza/EWTN

Now Hear This: St. Peter’s Basilica Upgrades Its Sound System

Jul 23, 2023

A common struggle for elderly Mass-goers is being able to hear in church. It seems, then, that the unveiling of a new sound system in St. Peter’s Basilica couldn’t have had better timing. It was inaugurated on July 23, after 10 months of work, just in time for the papal Mass for the third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Bishop Benjamin Phiri of Ndola Diocese in Zambia. Credit: Ndola Diocese

World Day for Grandparents, Elderly: Bishop in Zambia Lauds “wisdom of the elderly”

Jul 17, 2023

Bishop Benjamin Phiri of Ndola Diocese in Zambia has cautioned against the tendency to despise and neglect the elderly in society, and lauded them for their wisdom. 

Pope Francis greets an elderly couple at his general audience on Jan. 11, 2023 | Vatican Media

Vatican Offers Plenary Indulgence for Third Annual Grandparents’ Day this Month

Jul 5, 2023

The Vatican will again offer a plenary indulgence to mark the third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on July 23.

Pope Francis greets an elderly couple at his general audience on Jan. 11, 2023 | Vatican Media

Vatican Announces Date and Theme for 2023 World Day for Grandparents and Elderly

Apr 13, 2023

The Vatican announced Thursday the date and theme for the third annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Pope Francis on July 12, 2022, said the knee pain he experienced for several months “scared me, in the sense of ‘think a little about what your future is going to be like now.’”. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/ACI Press

Here’s What Pope Francis Said on the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Jul 24, 2022

The special observance is held on the fourth Sunday in July to roughly coincide with the feast day of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.

null. Shutterstock

How to Receive Plenary Indulgence July 24 on the World Day for Grandparents and Elderly

Jul 23, 2022

All it takes is a phone call, together with confession, Holy Communion, and prayer.

Pope Francis greets the elderly priest-residents of Casa San Gaetano in Rome on June 17, 2016. Vatican Media.

Vatican Offers Plenary Indulgence for Visiting the Elderly on Grandparents’ Day on July 24

May 30, 2022

The 2nd World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly will take place on July 24.

Pope Francis visits the San Raffaele Borona assisted living home in Rieti, Italy, Oct. 4, 2016. Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Invites Grandparents to Join a "spiritual and non-violent revolution"

May 10, 2022

The pope made the appeal in his message for the second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama with some elderly women. Credit: Archdiocese of Abuja

Catholic Archbishop in Nigeria Urges Government to Improve Social Services for Elderly

Jul 26, 2021

The Archbishop of Nigeria’s Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja has called on the government of the West African country to provide favorable social security services for the elderly people to see them through their “earthly pilgrimage.”

Pope Francis greets an elderly woman during his general audience Dec. 19, 2018. Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

On Inaugural Grandparents’ Day, Pope Francis Says Elderly are not “leftovers from life”

Jul 25, 2021

“I worry when I see a society full of people in constant motion, too caught up in their own affairs to have time for a glance, a greeting or a hug,” Pope Francis said Sunday.

Pope Francis visits the San Raffaele Borona assisted living home in Rieti, Italy, Oct. 4, 2016./ Vatican Media.

Pope Francis to Elderly: The Church Needs your Prayers Like ‘a deep breath’

Jun 22, 2021

There is no “retirement” from spreading the faith, Pope Francis said in a message to grandparents on Tuesday, adding that the prayers of the elderly are needed by the Church and the world.