On the occasion of the 5th World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, to be celebrated on Sunday, 27 July 2025, Pope Leo has published his message entitled "Blessed are those who have not lost hope" (cf. Sir 14:2). The text is part of the ongoing Jubilee journey and offers a profound reflection on old age as a time of grace and witness.

The Holy Father presents the elderly as guardians of hope, protagonists in God’s plan even in the midst of fragility. Through the biblical figures of Abraham, Sarah, Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Moses, Pope Francis reminds us that Scripture is full of stories where God calls older men and women to new spiritual fruitfulness.

In today’s context, where the elderly often risk being forgotten, the Pope urges the Church to draw near to them, promoting a "revolution of gratitude and care." Every ecclesial community is called to build bonds of closeness, prayer, and solidarity, giving value to the presence of the elderly and combating their isolation.

A meaningful aspect of this Day is also its connection to the Jubilee: it will be possible to obtain the Indulgence by visiting an elderly person in solitude— a concrete gesture of mercy, a true pilgrimage towards Christ present in the vulnerable.

"All of us, always, can love and pray," writes the Pope, reminding us that hope does not diminish with age, but is renewed each day through love received and given. The elderly are a blessing for the Church and for society; their witness of faith and perseverance is a precious gift for the new generations.

As UISG, we receive this Message with gratitude and join in prayer for all grandparents and elderly people around the world. We entrust to the Virgin Mary all those who lovingly care for them in families, religious communities, and works of mercy.

The full text of the Message is available on the official Vatican website.