An alliance between youth and the
elderly will save humanity, Pope Francis said at his weekly
general audience on Wednesday.
At the audience in the Vatican, Francis reflected on the value
of old age, focusing on Daniel's prophetic dream about the
Ancient of Days (Dan 7:9-10), according to Vatican News.
The Pope said the vision—known as a theophany—highlights the
connection between old age and youth.
Everything about the man in the vision is full of "vigour,
strength, nobility, beauty, and charm". Yet, noted the Pope, the
man is described with hair as white as snow, like an old man.
"The snow-white hair is an ancient symbol of a very long time,
of time immemorial, of an eternal existence," he said.
Pope Francis stressed that there is no need to strip our faith
of symbols when trying to explain the Bible to others.
"The image of God, who watches over everything with
snow-white hair, is not a silly symbol. It is a biblical image;
it is noble, and even tender."
God, added the Pope, is both ancient and new, since He is
eternity.
In the same way, humanity needs to rediscover the importance of
allowing the old and the young to interact and share experience
and enthusiasm.
"Old age," said the Holy Father, "must bear witness to children
that they are a blessing" by embracing the "mystery of our
destination in life".
The Pope said the elderly have a unique way of bearing witness
in such a way that is "credible to children."
"It is irresistible when an old person blesses life as it
comes their way, laying aside any resentment for life as it goes
away. The witness of the elderly unites the generations of life,
the same with the dimensions of time: past, present and future."
At the same time, said Pope Francis, it is painful and even
harmful to separate the ages of life and pit the old and the
young against each other as if they were competing for the same
resources.
Pope Francis concluded his catechesis by encouraging parents to
allow their children to interact with the elderly, even as they
near death's door, so as to pass on "the wisdom of dying".
"The alliance between the elderly and children will save the
human family," he said.
"Death is certainly a difficult passage from life—but it is
also one that concludes the time of uncertainty and throws away
the clock. For the beautiful part of life, which has no more
deadlines, begins precisely then."
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