Pope Francis on Sunday announced a Catholic Church-wide celebration of grandparents and the elderly, to be marked each year in July.
"Grandparents are often forgotten," the 84-year-old said as he led the weekly Angelus prayer from the Apostolic Palace, adding that "old age is a gift".
"Grandparents are the link between generations, to pass on to the young the experience of life and faith."
MORE ON POPE FRANCIS:
Pope Francis Derides Anti-Mask Protesters
Pope Francis Says He Supports Same Sex Civil Unions
Food and Sex are 'Simply Divine,' Pope Francis Says
The Argentine pontiff said the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly would be held on the fourth Sunday of July each year.
Francis will preside over the evening mass on July 25 at St Peter's on the first World Day, subject to coronavirus restrictions, the Vatican said.
