In an Oct. 3 address to participants for the Second International Conference on the Pastoral Care of the Elderly, Pope Leo emphasized that the elderly are a gift to the world and that supporting them in their fragility can be “a bridge towards heaven.”

 In the modern world, the Pontiff lamented,  there are conflicts and divisions between generations. Elderly people, for example, are sometimes accused “of consuming too many economic and social resources to the detriment of other generations, as if longevity were a fault,” he said. 

“These are ways of thinking that reveal very pessimistic and conflictual views of life,” he said. “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.”

The modern world often supports the mentality that existence is only valuable if it leads to wealth, power, or authority, but this thinking disregards that people are fragile, limited, and have needs, he said. 

“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,” Pope Leo continued. “Instead, it is healthy to realise that ageing ‘is part of the marvel of creation.’” 

“This fragility, ‘if we have the courage to acknowledge it,’ to embrace it and take care of it, ‘is a bridge towards heaven,’” Pope Leo said, quoting ___. “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.”

Pope Leo said the late Pope Francis provided catechesis in 2022 that developed a spirituality of the elderly, which could help provide a strong framework for pastoral care of the elderly. 

Throughout Her history, in fact, the Catholic Church has provided resources, through the Church Fathers, saints, and the Scriptures, to help understand 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,” Pope Leo said. 

Many older people have retired, are in good health, and enjoy economic well-being and increased free time, Pope Leo said. These “young elderly,” he said, are very involved in parish life, serving as catechists for example, and frequently going to Mass. 

“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,” Pope Leo said.

After all, some may not encounter the faith for the first time until they are older, some may be fallen-away Christians, and some older Christians may be striving ardently in their faith life. 

“For all of them, the pastoral care of the elderly must be evangelising and missionary,” he said, “because the Church is always called to proclaim Jesus Christ the Saviour to every man and woman, at every age and stage of life.”

If an elderly person has been abandoned, Pope Leo added, they must be brought “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 small prayers can contribute to building the kingdom of God, he said.

 “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,” he said. “In other cases, missionary evangelisation will help older people to encounter the Lord and his word.”

The Pontiff also noted that as people age, they often begin to wrestle with questions about the meaning of life, which presents an opportunity to develop an authentic relationship with God. 

“Dear friends,” he concluded, “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.”