Pope
Francis to meet, preside Mass for grandparents, elderly
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican’s Office of Liturgical Celebrations
has confirmed that Pope Francis will celebrate Holy Mass in St. Peter’s Square
this Sunday, 28 September at 10:30 a.m. for grandparents and the elderly. The
Pontifical Council for the Family says more than fifty elderly priests from
parishes around the world will concelebrate the liturgy with the Holy Father.
The main concelebrants will include the oldest priest of the Rome
diocese, and one elderly priest each from the Democratic Republic of Congo,
India and Argentina.
More than 40 thousand seniors and grandparents from more than 20 countries
– many from Italy, Spain, Argentina and the United States - will
participate in the morning’s liturgy. The Mass will be preceded from 8:30
to 9:30 by the event, "The blessing of a long life,” in preparation for
their meeting with Pope Francis. The hour-long event will feature
testimonials from seniors and reflections on five episodes from the
Bible. An elderly priest is expected to make a presentation - using only
ten verbs – alluding to the profound meaning of aging and old age.
Tying
together these testimonials will be the popular Italian children’s fairytale
elf: Gipo.
The
five biblical passages were chosen because they raise issues of concern to the
world’s elderly today. The figure of Sara: the alleged uselessness /
sterility of the elderly; the figures of Naomi and Ruth: the abandonment of a
mother-in-law by her daughter-in-law, and the story of Eleazar: the
responsibility each elder has towards the younger generation and for the
transmission of the faith. The last Scripture passages come from the New
Testament: the stories of Zechariah / Elizabeth and Simeon / Anna will present
to today’s seniors a twofold reflection on aging together in fulfilment of
God’s will, and on the zealous expression of gratitude for a lifetime dedicated
to the Lord.
Among
those attending Sunday’s events: an elderly couple of Iraqi refugees from
Qaraqosh (of the Diocese of Mosul) who will greet the Pope, bringing with them
the voice of the many elderly people who are suffering in conflict zones.
Pope
Francis will be welcomed with a live performance by Italian tenor Andrea
Bocelli.
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