Pope Francis celebrates Spanish grandparents
(Vatican Radio) “Confirm the faith with the closeness to the Lord that never abandons us” and in the belief of being able to contribute to their wisdom and loving gestures towards life and the human growth of their families.
That was the message addressed to all elderly Spaniards and to the organizers and participants of the XVI edition of the Grandparents Day which is being celebrated Sunday, July 26, throughout Spain.
In the message, sent from the Nunciature in Madrid, the Holy Father also reaffirms his support “to those who care for the elderly with love, contributing to the common good of society.”
The Day is promoted every year on the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anna – the grandparents of Jesus – by the Spanish Catholic “Edad Dorada-Mensajeros de la Paz” which is committed to supporting and promoting the elderly. The goal is to raise awareness in society about the respect due to older people who have given so much in their lives, to appreciate the great value of grandparents in every family and to draw attention to the needs of the elderly population. They are also the concepts outlined in the messages for the occasion by the archbishop of Madrid, Carlos Osoros, and Spanish military ordinary Bishop Juan del Río Martín.
Madrid is the main host of the event this year and a Mass will be celebrated in the Church of St. Anthony in the capital by Luis Gutiérrez Martín, bishop emeritus of Segovia. After Mass there will be the reading of the Holy Father’s message with his apostolic blessing.