PASTORAL VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO PIETRELCINA AND TO SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, ON THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE SAINTS DEATH: MEETING WITH THE FAITHFUL, ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS
Square in front of the liturgical hall, Pietrelcina
[…] The internal migration of young people is a problem. Pray to Our Lady that she
may give you the grace that the young may find work here, among you, near the
family, and that they are not compelled to go away and search elsewhere, leaving
the town to decline. The population ages, but this is a treasure, the elderly are a
treasure! Please, do not marginalize the elderly. The elderly must not be
marginalized, no. The elderly have wisdom. And may the elderly learn to converse
with the youth and may the young learn to talk to the elderly. They know the village,
the elderly. When I arrived I had the pleasure of greeting a man of 99 years, and a
woman of 97, a youngster. Wonderful! They are your wisdom! Talk to them. May
they be the protagonists of the growth of this town. May the intercession of your
Saint and fellow citizens support the intention of joining forces, so as to offer to the
young generations in particular concrete perspectives for a future of hope. May caring
attention, full of tenderness, not be lacking — as I said, — for the elderly, who are
the wealth of our communities. It would be good if for once, the Nobel Prize were to
be awarded to the elderly who retain humanity’s memory..[…]
