World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

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Pope Francis presides over a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on July 23, 2023, for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Now hear this: St. Peter’s Basilica upgrades its sound system

Jul 23, 2023

By Rachel Thomas

The new system debuted at the July 23 papal Mass for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Read more

Pope Francis is flanked by a grandmother and grandson during his Angelus reflection on July 23, 2023, in honor of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Here’s a beautiful prayer you can say on the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2023

Jul 23, 2023

By Rachel Thomas

The prayer from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life invokes Mary’s intercession. Read more

Pope Francis blesses a woman in St. Peter's Basilica, where he presided over a special papal Mass on July 23, 2023, marking the third annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Pope Francis celebrates World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Jul 23, 2023

By Rachel Thomas

Calling for “a new bond between the young and old,” Pope Francis marked the third annual World Day for Grandparents... Read more

Pope Francis greets an elderly couple at his general audience on Jan. 11, 2023

Vatican offers plenary indulgence for third annual Grandparents’ Day this month

Jul 5, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The day will be observed this year on July 23, the Sunday before the feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim,... Read more

Pope Francis greets an elderly couple at his general audience on Jan. 11, 2023

Vatican announces date and theme for 2023 World Day for Grandparents and Elderly

Apr 13, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The annual event, which happens around the feast day of Sts. Anne and Joachim, will take its theme this year... Read more

Pope Francis on July 12, 2022, said the knee pain he experienced for several months “scared me, in the sense of ‘think a little about what your future is going to be like now.’”

Here’s what Pope Francis said on the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Jul 24, 2022

By CNA Staff

The special observance is held on the fourth Sunday in July to roughly coincide with the feast day of Sts.... Read more

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Here’s how to receive a plenary indulgence July 24 on the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Jul 23, 2022

By Maisy Sullivan

All it takes is a phone call, together with confession, Holy Communion, and prayer. Read more

Pope Francis greets the elderly priest-residents of Casa San Gaetano in Rome on June 17, 2016.

Vatican offers plenary indulgence for visiting the elderly on Grandparents’ Day

May 30, 2022

By CNA Staff

The 2nd World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly will take place on July 24. Read more

Pope Francis visits the San Raffaele Borona assisted living home in Rieti, Italy, Oct. 4, 2016.

Pope Francis invites grandparents to join a ‘spiritual and non-violent revolution’

May 10, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope made the appeal in his message for the second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Read more

Pope Francis visits the elderly in Rieti, Italy on Oct. 4, 2016.

Vatican unveils theme for 2nd World Day for Grandparents and Elderly

Feb 15, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The World Day will be celebrated on July 24. Read more

Sr. Constance Veit, LSP

Catholic sisters dedicate lives to telling the elderly ‘You’ll never be alone’

Jul 27, 2021

By Katie Yoder

Ahead of the inaugural World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly this past Sunday, the communications director for the Little... Read more

Pope Francis greets an elderly woman during his general audience Dec. 19, 2018.

Pope Francis on Grandparents’ Day: Elderly are not ‘leftovers from life’

Jul 25, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

“I worry when I see a society full of people in constant motion, too caught up in their own affairs... Read more

Pope Francis visits the San Raffaele Borona assisted living home in Rieti, Italy, Oct. 4, 2016.

Pope Francis to elderly: The Church needs your prayers like ‘a deep breath’

Jun 22, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope released a message ahead of the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, Read more

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A mourner holds up an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the funeral on Sept. 27, 2023, of victims who were killed when a fire ripped through a crowded wedding hall in the mainly Christian northern city of Qaraqosh, Iraq, also known as Hamdaniyah. At least 100 people were killed, officials said, pointing to indoor fireworks as the likely cause for the blaze that sparked a panicked stampede for the exits.

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Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Baltimore.

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Ruben Vardanyan, a former high-ranking official in the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, was arrested by Azerbaijan authorities on Sept. 27, 2023, as he attempted to flee the region along with over 50,000 other ethnic Armenian refugees.

Former Nagorno-Karabakh Armenian leader arrested as over 50,000 refugees flee region

The 2023 Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is being held Sept. 25-28, 2023, outside of Toronto, Ontario.

Canadian bishops address protection of minors and vulnerable adults at meeting

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California governor signs bills that would penalize schools that refuse to teach LGBT content

Father Marko Rupnik.

Discipline of sister who led community co-founded by Rupnik raises questions

Liturgical Calendar Show this year
Sep 28
St. Wenceslaus
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The Church of St. Mary of the Isle, located in Douglas on the Isle of Man in the British Isles.

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The Romeike family fled from Germany in order to home-school their children and now faces deportation from the U.S.

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Sudiksha Thirumalesh died Sept. 12, 2023, after a legal fight to circumvent a ruling in the United Kingdom that she was not competent to make decisions about her care.

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Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

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Father Marko Rupnik.

Discipline of sister who led community co-founded by Rupnik raises questions