Pope Francis recently used Twitter to discuss the upcoming World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, emphasizing the importance of honoring the elderly. This year, World Grandparents Day took place on Sunday.

"Let us never abandon the elderly," the pontiff said in his tweet. "Their presence in our families and communities is precious, for they remind us that we share the same heritage and are part of a people committed to preserving our roots."

Francis created the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021, designating it to be celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of July, a Vatican News report said. This date was selected due to its proximity to the Feast Day of St. Anne and St. Joachim, who were the parents of Mary and thus regarded as the grandparents of Jesus. The Feast Day of St. Anne and St. Joachim falls on July 26.

The main purpose of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly is to emphasize the value and significance of grandparents and the elderly, who often feel neglected or marginalized, a July 23 Vatican press release said. Pope Francis, in his message for the occasion, emphasized this year's theme: "His mercy is from age to age." He highlighted the importance of intergenerational connections, emphasizing the significance of the younger generation building relationships with the elderly.

"The World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly is meant to be a small but precious sign of hope for them and for the whole Church," the pope said in his message. "I renew my invitation to everyone – dioceses, parishes, associations and communities – to celebrate this Day and to make it the occasion of a joyful and renewed encounter between young and old."

Metin Durmaz, architect and CEO of the Sagist Group, responded to Pope Francis in a Twitter post.

"Respect, reverence, and protection towards the elderly are fundamental values in our society," Durmaz said in the tweet. "Our seniors are the cornerstones of our community, enriched with experience and wisdom. Learning from their lifetime of accumulated knowledge and preserving their valuable legacy is crucial. It is a humanitarian responsibility to safeguard and cherish them."