Pope Leo XIV addressed participants in the Second International Congress on the Pastoral Care of the Elderly, an event that concludes this October 4 in Rome. It is sponsored by the Vatican's Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.
The conference gave the Holy Father the opportunity to speak on one of the key themes of his predecessor's pontificate: The role of the elderly in society. For both Francis, and now Leo, the theme is also intimately related to life issues, as the vastly increased life expectancies common today are a financial issue leading some states toward euthanasia.
Pope Leo offered several key insights on the role and vocation of elderly, and particularly their role in the Church.
1Dueling generations
For example: he spoke of the way that generations can be conceptualized as dueling forces, in a conflict mentality. The elderly can be seen as robbing job opportunities and resources from the young.
2Long life as a blessing
Instead, the Pope pointed out, long life should be seen as a blessing, regardless of the resources it requires. Still, he acknowledged, this relatively new societal challenge does need to be met with discernment to find the best ways forward.
3Uniquely poised to teach a fundamental lesson
One of Leo's main points was that the elderly -- precisely in their neediness -- are a uniquely "beneficial reminder" of a fundamental truth of human life: That we all need each other.
Noting the utilitarian trends in society, he said:
Today’s prevailing mentality tends to value existence if it produces wealth or success, if it exercises power or authority, forgetting that the human being is always a limited creature with needs.
The fear of human neediness leads society to hide the elderly so as not to be reminded of our fragility, but instead, they should be seen as a reminder of what we all need for salvation.
4"Surprised" by growing old
Pope Leo noted Pope Francis' general audience series on old age, saying that it is an invaluable resource, as it offered a "true spirituality of the elderly."
5Elders as evangelizers
The Holy Father offered various reflections on the evangelizing role of the elderly, noting both that they often have more time to dedicate to Church ministries, and that their own journey in faith has various elements to consider.
He called for "involving them not as passive recipients of evangelization, but as active subjects, and to respond together with them, and not in their place, to the questions that life and the Gospel pose to us."
6Loneliness scourge
Pope Leo also spoke about "the great enemy of the lives of the elderly": the "darkness of loneliness."
"May no one be abandoned! May no one feel useless!" he urged, noting that this is a challenge for everyone, also the young.
Below is the full text of the Pope's address:
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.
Good morning and welcome to everyone!
Your Eminence,
Your Excellencies,
Dear priests,
Dear brothers and sisters,
I welcome all of you and am pleased to meet you on the occasion of the Second International Congress on the Pastoral Care of the Elderly, promoted by the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life.
The theme of the Congress – “Your elders shall dream dreams!” (cf. Joel 2:28) – recalls the words of the prophet Joel so dear to Pope Francis, who often spoke of the need for an alliance between young and old, inspired by the “dreams” of those who have lived long lives and enriched by the “visions” of those who are beginning the great adventure of life. [1] In the passage, the prophet announces the universal outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who creates unity among generations and distributes different gifts to each person.
In our time, unfortunately, relationships between generations are often marked by divisions and conflicts that pit them against each other. Older people, for example, are accused of not leaving room for young people in the workforce, or of consuming too many economic and social resources to the detriment of other generations, as if longevity were a fault.
These are ways of thinking that reveal very pessimistic and conflictual views of life. The elderly are a gift, a blessing to be welcomed, and a longer life is something positive; indeed, it is one of the signs of hope in our time, everywhere in the world. Of course, it is also a challenge, because the growing number of elderly people is an unprecedented historical phenomenon that calls us to discern and understand the reality in new ways.
Old age is above all a beneficial reminder of the universal dynamic of life. Today’s prevailing mentality tends to value existence if it produces wealth or success, if it exercises power or authority, forgetting that the human being is always a limited creature with needs. The fragility that appears in the elderly reminds us of this common truth; it is therefore hidden or removed by those who cultivate worldly illusions, so as not to have before their eyes the image of what we will inevitably become. Instead, it is healthy to realise that ageing “is part of the marvel of creation.” [2] This fragility, “if we have the courage to acknowledge it,” to embrace it and take care of it, “is a bridge towards heaven.” [3] Instead of being ashamed of human weakness, we will in fact be led to ask for help from our brothers and sisters and from God, who watches over all his creatures as a Father. The elderly teach us that “salvation is not found in autonomy, but in humbly recognizing one’s own need and in being able to express it freely,” so that “the measure of our humanity is not given by what we can achieve, but by our ability to let ourselves be loved and, when necessary, even helped.” [4]
Strange as it may seem, old age sadly is increasingly becoming something that comes suddenly and catches us unprepared. Drawing on the Scriptures, the wisdom of the Fathers and the experience of the saints, the Church is called to offer times and tools for understanding old age, so that we can live it in a Christian way, without pretending to remain forever young and without letting ourselves be overcome by discouragement. In this sense, the catechesis that Pope Francis dedicated to this theme in 2022 is invaluable, developing a true spirituality of the elderly: we can draw on it to set up useful pastoral work.
Today, many people, having finished their working years, have the opportunity to enjoy an increasingly long period of good health, economic well-being and more free time. They are called “young elderly”: often they are the ones who attend Mass assiduously and lead parish activities, such as catechesis and various forms of pastoral service. It is important to find an appropriate language and opportunities for them, involving them not as passive recipients of evangelisation, but as active subjects, and to respond together with them, and not in their place, to the questions that life and the Gospel pose to us.
There are various situations that can arise: some people receive their first proclamation of the faith in old age; others have experienced God and the Church in their youth but have subsequently drifted away; still others have persevered in the Christian life. For all of them, the pastoral care of the elderly must be evangelising and missionary, because the Church is always called to proclaim Jesus Christ the Saviour to every man and woman, at every age and stage of life.
Where elderly people are alone and discarded, this will mean bringing them the good news of the Lord’s tenderness, to overcome, together with them, the darkness of loneliness, the great enemy of the lives of the elderly. May no one be abandoned! May no one feel useless! Even a simple prayer, recited with faith at home, contributes to the good of the People of God and unites us in spiritual communion. This missionary task challenges all of us, our parishes and, in a particular way, young people, who can become witnesses of closeness and mutual listening to those who are further along in their lives.
In other cases, missionary evangelisation will help older people to encounter the Lord and his word. With advancing age, in fact, many people begin to question the meaning of existence, creating an opportunity to seek an authentic relationship with God and to deepen their vocation to holiness.
Dear friends, let us always remember that proclaiming the Gospel is the primary task of our pastoral ministry: by involving older people in this missionary dynamic, they too will be witnesses of hope, especially through their wisdom, devotion and experience. Indeed, I pray for this. I invoke upon you the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary, and I accompany you with my blessing. Thank you!
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[1] Cf. Francis, La saggezza del tempo, Roma 2018, 9.
[2] Homily for the Mass for the Jubilee of Youth (3 August 2025).
