I will never forget you (Is 49:15) is the theme selected by Pope Leo XIV for the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly that will be celebrated on Sunday 26 July.
This year’s celebration coincides with the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.
It provides an opportunity to bring the Church closer to the elderly and acknowledge their contribution to families and communities.
‘I will never forget you’ is taken from the book of Isaiah. It expresses God’s unconditional fidelity towards his people and reveals how the Lord’s love for each of us never fails, even in the fragility of old age.
The theme is intended to be a message of consolation and hope for all grandparents and the elderly, especially those who live in solitude or feel forgotten.
At the same time, it is a call to families and ecclesial communities to celebrate their elderly, recognising in them a precious presence and a blessing.
Established by Pope Francis in 2021, the day is traditionally celebrated with a Eucharistic celebration and visits with the elderly.