Pope Francis to Meet with 6,000 Grandparents, Elderly, and Grandchildren in Special Event at the Vatican

In a press conference hosted by the Holy See Press Office, organizers announced an April 27th event sponsored by Italy's "Fondazione Età Grande" (Old Age Foundation) that will bring together grandparents and grandchildren to the Vatican's Paul VI Hall as a way to promote the role and contribution of the elderly in today's world.
Promoting dialogue between generations and enhancing the Third Age in social and cultural spheres are the goals of the event called, "The Caress and the Smile" that will take place in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall.
Some six thousand grandparents, seniors, and grandchildren will meet with Pope Francis. The meeting was presented on Monday morning at the Holy See Press Office with the organizers, including Italy's Fondazione Età Grande (Old Age Foundation). The event draws on Christian values that highlight and sensitize the rights of the elderly and the corresponding duties of the community.
The initiative aims to offer new perspectives on old age says Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, highlighting the richness of it and how it is not a burden but a resource for people of all ages. 
The elderly should appreciate how much they still can give, Archbishop Paglia said at the press conference, noting that in Italy there are 14 million elderly but addressing the political, economic, religious, and cultural issues related to them is lacking.
Pope Francis with his nineteen catecheses on old age during his Wednesday General Audiences has explained how important it is to give consideration to the Third Age, even instituting a feast for grandparents, Archbishop Paglia said. He also added in particular that the Italian state, with Law 33 of 2023 on reforms regarding non-self-sufficiency, has committed to reorganizing care for the elderly, and the hope is that other nations also will also give due attention to issues regarding the older generation. 
Sponsoring the 27 April event with Pope Francis is Italy's Fondazione Età Grande (Old Age Foundation) which showcases the human dimension surrounding these issues by placing the person with his or her needs and frailties at the center of reflection on the elderly. The Foundation promotes social policies in favor of the elderly in the world of work, culture and education, public health, economic protection, and social inclusion.
Italian actor Lino Banfi (and a grandfather himself) will reflect together and discuss the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren. The event will also include the participation of Italian singer Al Bano, the choir of the Diocese of Rome directed by Msgr. Marco Frisina, followed by the arrival of Pope Francis who will hear the testimonies of three grandparents and three grandchildren.
Source: Vatican News