Vatican Announces Theme for Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

The Vatican has announced the theme for the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, choosing the words I will never forget you from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. The theme was confirmed by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life and is intended to place renewed attention on the dignity, presence, and spiritual value of older people within the life of the Church and society.

Pope Leo XIV selected the biblical phrase as a message of reassurance and hope, especially for elderly people who experience loneliness or feel overlooked in their families or communities. Drawn from Isaiah 49:15, the verse speaks of a love that does not fade with time or weakness and reflects a vision of care that extends beyond social usefulness or productivity.

The World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly was established in 2021 by Pope Francis as a permanent annual observance. It is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July and is designed to strengthen the bond between generations, while also recognizing the essential role older people play in transmitting faith, memory, and values. The observance also seeks to bring the Church closer to elderly individuals who may be isolated or marginalized.

This year, the World Day will be observed on Sunday, July 26, which coincides with the liturgical feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, traditionally recognized as the grandparents of Jesus. In marking the occasion, the Holy Father has invited dioceses around the world to celebrate the Day through a Eucharistic liturgy in their cathedral churches, emphasizing the communal and ecclesial dimension of the event.

According to the Vatican statement, the chosen theme carries a double significance. On one hand, it offers comfort to grandparents and elderly people by affirming that they are never forgotten by God, even in moments of physical decline or social invisibility. On the other hand, it serves as a call to families, parishes, and Catholic institutions to actively remember, value, and accompany older members of their communities.

The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life has encouraged dioceses, associations, and ecclesial movements to adapt the celebration to their local realities. It noted that pastoral resources will be made available to support prayer, reflection, and concrete gestures of closeness toward the elderly. These initiatives are intended to foster encounters between generations and to highlight the elderly not as passive recipients of care, but as witnesses of faith and experience.

By reaffirming that no stage of life falls outside God’s loving gaze, the theme for this year’s World Day reflects a broader emphasis within the Church on inclusion, memory, and intergenerational solidarity. It underscores the conviction that aging, with all its fragility, remains a time of grace and meaning within the Christian journey.