Pope Francis spoke of the “prophecy of the elderly” during a January 31 audience with participants in a conference on pastoral care for older people. Noting that in many countries, the number of older people is growing will the younger population declines, the Pope said that “civil society needs values and meaning” for old age, and “here, above all, is the contribution of the ecclesial community.” Pope Francis also mentioned that many parents today are not passing along the faith to their children, and grandparents could fill the gap.