By Deborah Castellano Lubov
“Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord promises that he will never forget any of us. He assures us that he has engraved our faces on the palms of His hands (cf. Is 49:16) and that His love is greater than a mother’s love for her child (cf. Is 49:15).”
This comforting reminder was offered at the beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s Message for the Sixth World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, to be held on the fourth Sunday of July, on the theme “I will never forget you (Is 49:15),” which the Vatican released today.
READ POPE LEO XIV’S FULL MESSAGE FOR SIXTH WORLD DAY OF GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY
In the text, Pope Leo says that the prophet gives us a glimpse of an intimate and intense dialogue in which God addresses, in familiar terms, each person individually and the people as a whole, saying that even today, we can read these words as referring to each of us.
At any age, beloved sons and daughters of God
These words that fill us with comfort and hope, he said, are the answer to an agonizing feeling that troubles the heart: “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me” (Is 49:14).
The Pope acknowledged that quite a few elderly people share the painful feeling of being forgotten, especially as they experience loneliness or sometimes being reduced to a bed number or illness.
Pope Leo said that the celebration of the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly is an opportunity to rediscover that the Church is called to be a mother to all, and that at any age, “it is always possible to recognize ourselves as sons and daughters of God.”
Also an invitation to the young
The Holy Father also invited everyone, especially the young, “to revive the beautiful custom” of visiting their grandparents, elderly relatives, and even those who have no one to visit them.
“Bring them, through this message and your presence, the closeness and affection of the Pope,” he said, as he called on loved ones to offer their grandparents and their elderly loved ones a tender and affectionate encounter.
He reiterated that the Church understands the suffering of her elderly members. It is a joy, at any age, but especially when we are no longer young, to discover, as Blessed John Paul I said, that we are the recipients of God’s “undying love,” that He “always has His eyes open on us, even when it seems to be dark,” and “is our father; even more, He is our mother.”
Invitation to return to the arms of God
Even if it does not come naturally to think this way, Pope Leo pointed out that the truth remains that in old age, we do not cease to be sons and daughters.
The invitation to return to the arms of God, he said, remains worthwhile at any age.
For many, the discovery of God’s tenderness takes place over the course of their lives, sometimes even in its final stages.
Never too late to turn to Him
Pope Leo observed that more so than in the past, it is increasingly common to reach old age without having had a genuine experience of faith.
In spite of this, he said, God still draws close to us.
“It is never too late to begin turning to Him. It can be a great gift for everyone,” he said.
Born anew in old age
“I would like to say to you: do not be afraid of fragility!” he said, noting that in old age, one may be “fragile” but at the same time “called.”
He stressed that a man and a woman can, in fact, be born anew in old age.
The Holy Father noted that in this time, so harshly marked by the violence of war and social unrest, many wonder what the world in which their grandchildren will grow up will be like, and thus called on elderly people to join him in praying earnestly that peace may soon come to the world.
“He never forgets us”
Finally, the Holy Father thanked all elderly people for supporting him every day with their prayers, especially when they recite the Holy Rosary.
“I return this gratitude from the bottom of my heart,” he said, while noting he leaves them with this prayer: “May the Lord always renew us in faith, hope and love — He who never forgets us!” – Vatican News
