Four years ago, Pope Francis inaugurated the “World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.” He proposed that this day would be observed each year on the Sunday closest to the July 26 celebration of Christ’s grandparents, Saints Joachim and Anne. In past years, two of the themes chosen celebrated the comforting closeness of God to older persons – “I am with you always” in 2021 and “His mercy is from age to age” in 2023. The 2022 theme, “In old age they will still bear fruit,” was a celebratory reminder of the contributions that older generations make to their communities. This year, though, I was struck with the deep, aching poignancy of the theme Pope Francis selected: “Do not cast…