Pope Leo XIV: 'The elderly can be life teachers'

Pope Leo XIV reaffirms the precious value of the elderly and their role as 9;life teachers9; and reiterates that old age is a time of grace in a letter sent to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life on the occasion of the Dicastery9;s Meeting dedicated to Pastoral Care of the Elderly.

File photo of Pope Leo spending time with parishioners at a Rome parish (ANSA)

'The elderly, in serene acceptance of the limitations imposed by the passing years—without hiding them or being ashamed of them—can be life teachers, able to show everyone—and especially young people—that the value of a life is not measured by efficiency or self-sufficiency, but by the capacity to love and to be loved, to give and to receive.'

Pope Leo XIV expressed this in the letter sent on his behalf by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, on the occasion of the Dicastery9;s Meeting on the Pastoral Care of the Elderly.

The Meeting9;s theme is “A Bridge to Heaven: The Magisterium of Fragility in the Time of Strength.”

In today’s society, the Pope said, old age is a complex season of life, rich in possibilities, and for the Church, which has always recognized in the elderly a significant presence, this initiative is certainly of great importance.

Older people often devote much service to the community

'Today, in many regions of the world, older people,' he reminded, 'often still have much energy to devote in service to the community.'

He said this is evident in the various forms of volunteering, which are essential in many areas of ecclesial life.

Yet beyond this, old age, the Holy Father noted, also calls attention to a deeper and more important aspect of Christian life, namely the value of weakness.

He suggested that the increase in average life expectancy inevitably entails a prolongation of the fragile period of old age, which presents the challenge of reflecting on the meaning of this stage of life.

A time of grace, to be lived in prayer, service and tenderness

He pondered: 'What value should be attributed to the many years that a man or woman may live in a state of physical or mental weakness? What is the Christian perspective by which to inhabit this time? How can we proclaim that human life always retains its 9;infinite dignity,9; in every stage?'

The Pope said the reflections the Meeting9;s participants are undertaking can help respond to these and other questions.

He also stressed that fragility has spiritual and communal value, reminding us that we are dependent on one another and in need of God, and echoed Pope Francis in describing it as a 'magisterium' that has much to teach humanity today.

Old age, Pope Leo underscored, is a time of grace, to be lived in prayer, service, tenderness, and in the memory preserved and passed on: a blessing for generations to come.

Even if the society in which we live is dominated by the logic of performance and competition, in which strength is conceived as a display of power and tends to degenerate into domination, he said the Church continues to propose the Gospel message of meekness, humility, and peace.

First and most authoritative witnesses through experience and wisdom

'The elderly members of our communities, through their experience and wisdom of life, are the first and most authoritative witnesses of this Christian vision of humanity.'

The Pope expressed his hope that their work may contribute to promoting, towards elderly people and the blessed time of old age, renewed attitudes and to awaken in those advanced in years, the responsibility to transmit healthy and solid values to future generations.

Finally, Pope Leo invoked the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary and wholeheartedly imparted upon everyone his Apostolic Blessing.

Deborah Castellano Lubov
Source: vaticannews.va/en