March 4, 2015
Pope Francis exchanges his zucchetto for one presented by someone in the crowd during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 4. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Seeing the elderly only as a burden “is ugly. It’s a sin,” Pope Francis said at his weekly general audience.
“We must reawaken our collective sense of gratitude, appreciation and hospitality, helping the elderly know they are a living part of their communities” and sources of wisdom for the younger generations, the 78-year-old pope said March 4 at his weekly general audience.
Continuing a series of audience talks about the family, Pope Francis said he would dedicate two talks to the elderly, looking at how they are treated in modern societies and at their vocation within the family.