The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life announced the celebration of the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, on Sunday 25th July. This World Day will become a fixed event, to be celebrated every year, on the fourth Sunday of July, the memorial of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, the parents of the Blessed Mother Mary.

The theme chosen by Pope Francis for this inaugural commemoration is “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20). It expresses the closeness of the Lord and the Church to every older person, especially in these challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Not only are grandchildren and youths invited to be present in the lives of older people, but older people and grandparents also have a mission of evangelization, proclamation and prayer, and of encouraging young people in their faith.

To further encourage the celebration of the World Day in local churches and associations, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life will offer pastoral tools from mid-June, which will be available on the website www.amorislaetitia.va

The World Apostolate of Fatima invites all its members to join in this commemoration by organizing at their local level some celebration, to mark the importance of the family and the great contribution of grandparents in the task of evangelization, inspired also by the message of Fatima.