The Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life convened the Second International Congress on Pastoral Care of the Elderly at the General Curia of the Society of Jesus in Rome, held from October 2 to 4, 2025. The meeting, under the biblical theme "Your elders will have dreams" (Jl 3,1), brought together 150 delegates from 65 countries and representatives from 55 Episcopal Conferences. From Cáritas Latin America and the Caribbean, Nury Callata, head of the Caritas Chile Senior Citizens Program, and Jorge Quintás, from the Cáritas Paraguay Social Pastoral, participated in the meeting. The meeting focused on the urgency of developing a pastoral care that adapts to the profound changes in the way of aging in today's world.

The Congress continues the first international meeting of 2020, entitled "The richness of the years." Since then, the itinerary has not stopped: the establishment of the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021 and Pope Francis' cycle of catechesis on old age in 2022 have consolidated the Church's attention towards this age group. The Second International Congress represents one more step on this path, with the aim of deepening reflection and identifying new paths for the future.

Nury highlights that the Second International Congress has been a significant moment not only of reflection, but of fraternal encounter, where the diversity of experiences became an opportunity to live the true jubilee. “There, the voices and testimonies of older people made it clear that they are not mere recipients of pastoral care, but active protagonists in the life of the Church. From my experience as a representative of the Caritas Chile Senior Citizens Program, we wanted to bring these voices to Congress: those of leaders, diocesan teams and older people from the different spaces of our Church, with whom we work,” he highlighted.

Leo XIV: against abandonment and for hope

In his speech on October 3, 2025 to the participants of the Congress in the Clementine Hall, Pope Leo the fracture, citing accusations that the elderly "absorb too many economic and social resources, to the detriment of other generations, as if longevity were a fault." On the contrary, the Pope stated emphatically that "the elderly are a gift, a blessing to be accepted, and the prolongation of life constitutes a positive fact, in fact, it is one of the signs of hope of our time."

Where older people feel alone and rejected, this will mean bringing them the joyful message of the tenderness of the Lord, to overcome, together with them, the darkness of loneliness, the great enemy of the life of older people. Let no one be abandoned! Let no one feel useless!

In addressing human fragility, the Holy Father described it not as something to be ashamed of, but as a "beneficial evocation of the universal dynamics of life." He highlighted the central teaching that "this fragility, if we have the courage to recognize it, embrace it and protect it, is a bridge to heaven."

Old age as a gift and not as a burden

During the three days of the congress, participants were able to share experiences of the work developed by the episcopal conferences and delve into specific topics such as “The demographic transition: the challenges of the longevity society”; “The meaning of life when life lengthens”; “The throwaway culture”; “The spirituality of the elderly”; and “The dreams of the elderly.”

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery, opened the Congress by mentioning that during the pontificate of Pope Francis, pastoral care for the world of older people was intensified and carried out in a more systematic way. In the preceding pontificates until reaching the Second Vatican Council, the concern of the Church is seen with a pastoral care dedicated to them in the fulfillment of their mission. “Older people are the future of the Church, not just its past: their experience, their deeply rooted faith and their wisdom are an inestimable treasure for all the People of God on their path,” said the cardinal.

The Congress proposed to be a "laboratory of ideas and hope" to build a shared vision that encompasses all corners of the planet. By bringing together delegates from the regions of the world, it seeks to consolidate a pastoral "rooted in listening", capable of touching with the hand the joys, hopes and difficulties of the elderly, transforming their wisdom into an essential asset for the future of the Church.

For Nury, the Congress made a strong call “to move from mere assistance to existence to a deep commitment that promotes the participation, protagonism and dignity of older people as active subjects in our societies.”

With information and photos from the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life