Aging Archives

On the coronavirus, rapid aging, falling fertility and Humanae Vitae

Mar 18, 2020

There may be a correlation between declining fertility rates and rapidly rising elderly populations in many societies around the world, and the extent to which those societies have been impacted by the coronavirus.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Audio, large-print resources can help elderly parishioners, expert says

Nov 4, 2018

With an aging Catholic population, Xavier Society for the Blind produces Braille books on spiritual and religious topics and provides Braille catechetical textbooks for students in religious education courses.

By Tom Tracy

Catholic sisters host trivia night to support elderly religious

Aug 26, 2018

As part of a fundraiser to support elderly religious, Philadelphia sisters are challenging area Catholics to a battle of wits.

By Catholic News Agency

Pope Francis hints he may not be around in 2019

Apr 9, 2017

During a youth vigil on Saturday to rally enthusiasm for the Catholic Church’s next World Youth Day, to be held in Panama in 2019, Pope Francis told young people they’re the future even if he may not be around to see it. “I don’t know if it will be me, but the pope will be in Panama!” he told the crowd at the St. Mary Major basilica.

By Associated Press

Aussie bishops get ahead of the curve on the ‘Grayby Boom’

Sep 8, 2016

As the elderly population in many societies around the world explodes, a trend demographers sometimes call the ‘Grayby Boom,’ the Catholic bishops of Australia are insisting that the challenges aren’t merely economic and related to production, but are ultimately about the human dignity of aging persons.

By John L. Allen Jr.

U.S. pilgrims to World Youth Day reflect changing demographics

Jul 8, 2016

The Catholic Church in the United States is becoming increasingly Hispanic and and also getting older, and both trends are reflected in the U.S. delegation for World Youth Day — there are more Latinos/Latinas, and most pilgrims are in their 20s or older.

By Tom Tracy