Bishop Rayarala Vijaykumar of Srikakulam, India, emphasized the inherent dignity and spiritual richness of the elderly during an international conference on pastoral care held at the Vatican from October 2 to 4.
The meeting, organized by the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, gathered about 150 delegates from 65 countries, including representatives from 55 bishops’ conferences and religious associations dedicated to the care of the elderly.
Bishop Vijaykumar, who attended the event with his wheelchair-bound mother and sister, shared a touching encounter with Pope Leo XIV during the papal audience. As the Pope approached, “he bent forward to bless the bishop’s mother, who gracefully touched the holy father’s cheeks and then her forehead”—a gesture the prelate described as deeply symbolic of love and respect.
“The prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrel facilitated this participation,” Bishop Vijaykumar acknowledged “with full of gratitude.”
Delivering his address in Italian, he focused on appreciating the spirituality of the elderly within India’s socio-cultural and religious context. Citing Pope Francis, he reminded participants that the elderly should not be viewed as burdens but as “invaluable repositories of wisdom and experience.” He quoted, “The best of life is still yet to be seen,” as a message of hope for those who may feel abandoned or forgotten.
Bishop Vijaykumar urged the faithful to see aging as a “unique opportunity for ministry,” calling on everyone to become “signs of hope, faith, and charity.” Drawing from ancient Indian scriptures, he quoted, “Maatru Deevoo Bhava Pitru Devoo Bhavaa Aacharya Devoo Bhava Atidhi Devoo Bhava,” which, he explained, teaches reverence for mothers, fathers, teachers, and guests as divine figures.
He described how the four stages of human life in Hindu tradition once nurtured strong intergenerational bonds, now weakened by modern individualism and the shift from extended to nuclear families. “In the past, the elderly served as vital connectors of tradition and wisdom, bridging generations. Today, however, many elderly individuals experience isolation and undervalue,” he lamented.
Warning against the loss of intergenerational relationships, he said, “You cannot truly grow old if you don’t know how to live with an elder,” adding that societies that neglect their elders “fail to understand their roots and traditions.”
The bishop concluded by recalling Pope Leo XIV’s call for a renewed Church commitment to the elderly: “Christian hope always urges us to dare more, to think big, and to not settle for the status quo.”
The conference continued with discussions on building integrated support systems for the elderly, highlighting their indispensable role in families, communities, and the Church. Organizers described the gathering as a step toward restoring dignity and inclusion for the elderly worldwide through both spiritual reflection and practical action.
