Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has reaffirmed the dignity and mission of elderly people within the life of the Church, describing them as a “gift and blessing” who enrich Christian witness. Addressing participants of the Second International Congress on the Pastoral Care of the Elderly, held in Rome from October 2–4 and organized by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, the Pope urged the Church to give space to the elderly in her missionary outreach.
The congress, held under the theme “Your elders shall dream dreams!”, brought together Church leaders, pastoral workers, and delegates from across the world. In his address on Friday, Pope Leo XIV recalled the vision of Pope Francis, who emphasized the need for a living “alliance” between young and old where the wisdom of those who have traveled far in life supports those just beginning their journey.
Yet, the Pope lamented, modern societies often nurture tensions between generations. The elderly are frequently blamed for taking up employment opportunities or consuming economic resources meant for the young. Such views, he warned, treat longevity as though it were a fault, rather than a blessing born of medical advances and social progress.
“The elderly are a gift, a blessing to be welcomed, and a longer life is something positive,” Pope Leo said. “Indeed, it is one of the signs of hope in our time, everywhere in the world.”
Pope Leo noted that society’s tendency to marginalize the elderly is linked to an unwillingness to admit human limitation. Modern culture often seeks self-sufficiency and denies weakness, he said, but the fragility of the elderly reveals a fundamental truth: every human being is in need of love, care, and ultimately, of God.
“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,” the Pope said.
He invited older believers to draw inspiration from Scripture and the saints, learning to face old age as a Christian vocation rather than as a time of discouragement.
Addressing pastoral ministers, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the “young elderly”—those who recently ended their working lives—as a vital resource for the Church’s mission. With more free time and renewed energy, they can lead parish initiatives, accompany the vulnerable, and strengthen communities through prayer.
“It is important to find an appropriate language and opportunities for them,” he said, insisting they must be involved as “active subjects” of evangelization rather than treated as passive recipients of care.
At the same time, the Pope stressed that many elderly people have drifted from faith or never fully received the Gospel. This, he said, places on the Church a duty to accompany them with tenderness, especially those suffering isolation and abandonment. “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.”
In concluding his address, Pope Leo XIV called on the Church not to abandon its elders but to recognize in them a living force for evangelization and spiritual vitality.
“May no one be abandoned! May no one feel useless!” he urged. “Even a simple prayer, recited with faith at home, contributes to the good of the People of God and unites us in spiritual communion.”
By reclaiming the dignity of old age as a season of witness, the Pope said, the Church can make the elderly not only recipients of pastoral care but also true missionaries of hope for the People of God.