Spanish
Pope Leo XIV affirmed this Friday that the elderly are "a gift" and asked that none of them be abandoned or feel useless in his speech to the participants of an international congress on the Pastoral Care of the Elderly, promoted by the dicastery (ministry) for Laity, Family and Life.
"In our time, unfortunately, relations between generations are often marked by fractures and oppositions, which pit some against others. The elderly, for example, are accused of not leaving space for young people in the labor market or of absorbing too many economic and social resources to the detriment of other generations, as if longevity were a sin," lamented the pontiff.
Because, he added, "the elderly are a gift, a blessing to be welcomed, and the prolongation of life is a positive fact; in fact, it is one of the signs of hope of our time, all over the world."
I criticize that "the prevailing mentality today tends to value existence if it produces wealth or success, if it exercises power or authority, forgetting that human beings are always limited and needy creatures."
And that "the fragility" of the elderly, however, demonstrates that "the measure of our humanity is not given by what we can conquer, but by the capacity to let ourselves be loved and, when necessary, also to help".
He urged priests and Catholics to bring them "the joyful message of the Lord's tenderness, to overcome, together with them, the darkness of loneliness, the great enemy of the lives of the elderly."
"Let no one be abandoned! Let no one feel useless! Even a simple prayer, recited with faith at home, contributes to the good of the People of God and unites. It unites us in spiritual communion. This missionary task challenges us all, our parishes and, especially, the young, who can become witnesses of closeness and mutual listening with those who are more advanced in life," he added.
The pontiff also asked for help for the elderly "to find the Lord" since, "in fact, as they age, the question about the meaning of life resurfaces in many, creating the opportunity to seek an authentic relationship with God".
