Pope’s Sunday “Angelus’ focuses on importance of grandparents

(July 27, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday urged for prayers for “all the grandparents of the world” who he said are witnesses to fundamental values and play an important educational role for young people, especially in today’s world. The Holy Father gave the advice as he spoke to a crowd of a few thousands who had gathered in front of the cottage in Les Combes, in northern Italy’s Val D’Aosta region, where the Holy Father is vacationing until Wednesday, July 29. Drawing attention to the day’s liturgical feast day of Jesus’ grandparents and the Virgin Mary’s parents, Sts. Joachim and Anne, the Pope said, “This feast makes us think about the topic of education, which has such an important place in the pastoral work of the Church." "In particular, it invites us to pray for grandparents, who, in the family, are the depositaries and the witnesses of the fundamental values of life.” "The educational task of grandparents is always very important, and it becomes even more so when, for different reasons, the parents are not able to ensure an adequate presence to their children while they are growing up," said the Pope, whose right hand is still in a cast after having broken his wrist in a fall in his cottage on July 17. Pope Benedict entrusted "all the grandparents of the world" to the protection of Anne and Joachim, and gave them a special blessing. "May the Virgin Mary," he concluded, "who, according to certain beautiful artistic renderings, learned to read sacred Scriptures at the knee of her mother, Anne, help grandparents to always nourish their faith and hope at the font of the Word of God."
After his ‘Angelus’ blessing, Pope Benedict also addressed the crowd in English.
Listen:
I greet all the English-speaking visitors present today. Thank you for joining me here in Les Combes to pray the Angelus. I hope that your holidays may be a time of great joy, spent together as families, and of deep spiritual renewal, as you rest in the marvel of God’s gift of creation. May the Almighty abundantly bless each of you and your loved ones.