Vatican Announces Theme for Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Vatican, Feb 11, 2026: Pope Leo XIV has selected “I will never forget you” (Is 49:15) as the theme for the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life said in its statement on Tuesday.

The World Day, established by the late Pope Francis in 2021, is observed every fourth Sunday of July. It is presented as an occasion to express the Church’s closeness to older persons and to recognise their contribution within families and communities. This year, the observance falls on Sunday, July 26, coinciding with the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne. The Holy Father has invited everyone to mark the Day with a Eucharistic liturgy in the cathedral church of each diocese.

Taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, the chosen verse is intended as a message of consolation and hope for grandparents and elderly people, particularly those who experience loneliness or feel forgotten. It also serves as a reminder to families and ecclesial communities not to overlook them, acknowledging their precious presence and the blessing they embody.

The Pope’s choice emphasises that God’s love for every person endures, even amid the frailty associated with old age.

The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life has encouraged particular Churches, associations and ecclesial communities around the world to identify appropriate ways to promote and celebrate the Day within their local contexts. It added that specific pastoral resources will be made available at a later stage for this purpose.

Courtesy: Vatican News