In 2021, Pope Francis declared the fourth Sunday of July to be the World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly. I am sure that his decision to establish this day of prayer flowed, at least in part, from his own experience of being elderly. He was already suffering mobility issues, frequently using a wheelchair to get around. He had begun a regular series of hospitalizations, that would lead to his death in 2025.
As our Holy Father looked around the world, he saw the large number of senior citizens among us. The Baby Boomer generation has moved into old age. It is the largest single group of seniors born into a particular time frame, and because of advances in medical care, they are living longer. We now have the largest group of senior citizens that the world has ever seen.
    
In addition to noting the number of elderly, he noticed how many are forgotten, lonely and afraid. In terms of grandparents, our mobile populations means that more and more grandparents are living apart from their children and grandchildren. Previously, most grandparents lived relatively close to them and would receive frequent visits and personal family care in times of need.
    
We want to honor grandparents and all the elderly for the foundations they have left us, in terms of our country and states, and especially as they have handed down our faith.  We also honor them for the love and care that they provided us as we were growing up. Many of them now are taking care of our children and providing assistance to parents.
    
On this day, call them, visit them, pray for them, love them, and assure them of your love for them. Some of our elderly carry guilt because of their failures (real or imagined), so also forgive them.