CGA welcomes theme announced by Pope Francis for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2022

Pope Francis has this morning announced the theme for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly which will be celebrated this year on Sunday 24 July. The theme, which is taken from Psalm 92:15, is ‘In old age they will still bear fruit’.

Expanding on the theme in a series of tweets, the Holy Father said, “I have chosen this theme for the Second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, to be held on 24 July 2022, to promote dialogue among the generations, especially between grandparents and grandchildren.

“It is very important to bring together the wisdom of the elderly and the enthusiasm of the young. The encounter between grandparents and grandchildren is key, especially in this moment of economic and social crisis that humanity is undergoing.

Pope Francis continued, “The elderly should be cared for like a treasure of humanity: they are our wisdom, our memory. It is crucial that grandchildren remain close to their grandparents, who are like roots from which they draw the sap of human and spiritual values.”

Commenting on the announcement Catherine Wiley, Founder of the CGA, said, “I am overjoyed with the theme chosen by Pope Francis for this year’s World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. The theme, which centres on the value that Grandparents and Elders can bring to their families, their parishes and their communities, very much underpins the lived experience of the many many grandparents around the world that the CGA connects with.

“This year’s theme is a real call to parishes and communities to value the contribution that Grandparents and Elders can make, physically, emotionally, spiritually, not to mention the wisdom that they bring to our troubled world.

“Pope Francis has also honed in on the very special and unique relationship that exists between a grandchild and their grandparent. Grandparents have something to give to their grandchildren that the world around them doesn’t always have – that is time, patience and tenderness.

“Grandparents really are treasures, they have the stories and act as the memory bank in each family – they are the ones that grandchildren gravitate towards when they want information on a family member or a story from childhood of even a moment of social history. Grandparents are the repositories of these stories and they are also very much the repositories of faith in the family.

“Grandparents bring wisdom to the equation and Grandchildren bring an enthusiasm for life and together they encourage and inspire each other.

“The CGA very much looks forward to celebrating the second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly and would encourage families, parishes and communities to find creative ways to honour and thank Grandparents and Elders including those no longer with us.”

The CGA will have resources for this World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly available later in the year. For more see www.laityfamilylife.va and www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.org.

ENDS