Ours society is "based on efficiency that consequently ignores the elderly. Yet, older people are an asset, which cannot be ignored." The Pope said this at today's Audience in the first of two catechesis dedicated to the elderly. The first addressed their problematic present condition today, and the next one, which will have a more positive outlook, will be on the particular vocation in this age of life. "The number of elderly people has increased, but our societies are not sufficiently organized to make room for them, with due respect and concrete consideration for their frailty and their dignity."
Francis evoked a "culture of profit" that "insists on convincing us that the elderly are a burden, 'deadweights'. People think: not only do they not produce anything, but they're also a burden. In short, what does this kind of thinking lead to? They should be gotten rid of. It's terrible to see the elderly discarded; it’s so foul; this is a sin!" he added, remembering how in his ministry in Buenos Aires he had personally touched this reality, with its problems.
"I remember, when I visited nursing homes, talking to everyone, and many times I heard this: 'Oh, how are you? And your children? – Fine, just fine. – How many do you have? – A lot. – And do they come to visit you? – Yes, yes, always; yes, they come, they do come. – And when was the last time they came?' Then, the old woman—I remember especially one—said: 'Well, for Christmas.' We were in August! Eight months had passed without her children visiting once; she was abandoned for eight months! This is called mortal sin. Do you understand?"
"The elderly—he observed—are men and women, fathers and mothers, who were there before us on our own road, in our home, in our daily battle for a dignified life. They are men and women from whom we have received a lot. The elderly person is not an alien. We are the elderly: sooner or later we will inevitably grow old too, even if we don’t think about it. And if we don’t learn to treat old people well, then this is how we will also be treated."
