Pope Francis' prayer intention for December: 'For the elderly'

In his prayer intention for the month of December, Pope Francis said: "Let us keep in mind our elders, so that sustained by families and institutions, may with their wisdom and experience collaborate in the education of new generations."

It has become the custom of Pope Francis to release a video message detailing his new prayer intention each month.

The full text of the message is below:

12 DECEMBER 2017 – For the elderly

A people that does not take care of grandparents, that does not treat them well has no future.

The elderly have wisdom.

They are entrusted with a great responsibility: to transmit their life experience, their family history, the history of a community, of a people.

Let us keep in mind our elders, so that sustained by families and institutions, may with their wisdom and experience collaborate in the education of new generations.

The Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network of the Apostleship of Prayer developed "The Pope Video" initiative to assist in the worldwide dissemination of monthly intentions of the Holy Father in relation to the challenges facing humanity.