In a communique, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life stated that the motto selected for the celebration scheduled for July 25, ‘wants to express the closeness of the Lord and the Church in life to every older person, especially in this challenging time of the pandemic.’

The theme ‘I am with you always’ is also a promise of closeness and hope that young and old can mutually share, the note stated, referring to the annual celebration announced by the Holy Father, following the Angelus prayer on January 31.

Grandparents are often forgotten and we forget the wealth of preserving roots and passing on, said then Francis, who set the fourth Sunday of July as the date to honor them, close to the feast of Sts Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.

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