Pope Francis: Alliance between young and old will save humanity

Pope chats with small boy during today's General Audience. ICN/Screenshot

During the General Audience on Wednesday, held in the Paul VI Audience Hall, Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the meaning and value of old age and encouraged young people to overcome the generational gap to embrace the 'credible witness' of the elderly. Pope Francis

After walking onto the stage, unassisted - just using a stick - the Pope reflected on Daniel's prophetic dream about the Ancient of Days (Dan 7:9-10) the Pope said the vision highlighted 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 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."

During the Audience a small boy ran up on the stage. Pope Francis welcomed him. They had a brief chat and and he stood with Pope Francis for several minutes before returning to his family.

Early in the Audience one of the Swiss Guards fainted briefly and was helped to walk out. A commentator said it looked as though he had been overcome by the heat. The temperature in Rome has been very high lately - over 36C on Wednesday. Before the end of the Audience, Pope Francis enquired about his condition and was told that he had recovered.

Watch the Audience on the Vatican Media Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP44K4a6oCs

Source: Vatican News