POPE FRANCIS' PRAYER INTENTION FOR JULY

Pope Francis greets an elderly Man (Vatican Media)

This Month of July 2022, Pope Francis request we pray along with him for the elderly.

The Month of July is here again and as part of the Supreme Pontiff's tradition, he invites the faithful to join him in praying a particular intention every month, through the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network.

For the elderly

We pray for the elderly, who represent the roots and memory of a people; may their experience and wisdom help young people to look towards the future with hope and responsibility.

The Month of July is dedicated to the most Precious Blood of Jesus but the Pope chooses a prayer intention each month from the intentions of people collected Worldwide and narrowed down to a selected few by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network. These are then chosen by the Pope for each month of the Year.

In Mariology, the the Month of July is also dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

This Pope's intention for July therefore, coincides with the World Day of Grandparents which will be celebrated for the second time on July 24.

In a video released by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, Pope Francis said:

“We cannot speak about family without talking about the importance of the elderly among us,” Pope Francis said in a video message released June 30.

‘We elderly people often have a special sensitivity for care, for reflection, and affection,” he noted. “We are, or we can become, teachers of tenderness.”

The video series is always created monthly as part of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network's collaboration with the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

In the Pope's words, “We pray for the elderly, who represent the roots and memory of a people, that their experience and wisdom will help those who are younger to look to the future with hope and responsibility.”

The video depicts an elderly man and woman baking a Cake together and then shared with their grandchildren.

“In this world accustomed to war, we need a true revolution of tenderness,” he said. “We have a great responsibility towards new generations about this.”

Pope Francis said: “let us remember: grandparents and the elderly are the bread that nourishes our lives, the hidden wisdom of a people. That is why we must celebrate them, and I have established a day dedicated to them,” said Pope Francis.

Continuing, he said, “Let us pray for the elderly, that they may become teachers of tenderness so that their experience and wisdom may help young people to look towards the future with hope and responsibility.”

May we in all our endeavours, always turn towards the assistance and experience of the elderly, so that our journey in life and in the life to come will be fruitful, through Christ our Lord. Amen.