Not many people can say they’ve shaken hands with Pope Francis — or had their writing quoted in one of his messages — but Sandhurst Youth Ministry’s Elliott Tamplin can.

At the time, Elliott was a commerce student completing an internship at the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life. The experience, he says, transformed how he thinks about money and value.

“I want to put my skills and talents into the pursuit of mission and accomplishment,” he says. His work at the Dicastery, especially on projects focused on intergenerational dialogue, sparked a deep passion for youth and community. “That’s what led me to Youth Ministry here in Sandhurst,” he explains.

At the Dicastery, Elliott worked as a research analyst focusing on the Pastoral Care of the elderly. His work contributed to Pope Francis’ 2024 Message for World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

“ I wrote up a synthesis of my research for my boss, who edited it and passed it up the chain to the Under Secretary, who then sent it to the Cardinal, who then sent it to the Pope’s Writing Circle,” says Elliott, who was thrilled to discover that parts of his writing made it into the final message – verbatim!

“The lead-up to the Day was very exciting,” he recalls. “ I was proud when my boss showed me the public message and pointed to lines saying, ‘your work is right here!’ "

One of those lines addressed the common but harmful idea that the elderly are a burden on younger generations:

“There is now a widespread conviction that the elderly are burdening the young with the high cost of the social services they require ... This is a distorted perception of reality ... Intergenerational conflict is a fallacy and the poisoned fruit of a culture of conflict.”

Elliott’s research helped shape this insight. “What I discovered was how deeply connected the young and the elderly are,” he says. “As much as young people need to lead other young people, they often begin by learning from the generation before them. Grandparents pass on faith, and the elderly hold a vital place in the Church — as teachers, and as a living memory for young people to draw from.”

In May 2024, Elliott participated in the International Youth Ministry Congress in Rome, which brought together 300 delegates from 100 countries to explore the theme of Synodal Youth Ministry.

Pope Francis addressed the Congress, urging the Church to take young people seriously, not as token participants but as active protagonists in the life of the Church.

“A real listening, not one that is ‘half-hearted’ or merely ‘window dressing’,” the Pope said. “Young people should not be pushed into promoting ideas and activities already decided by others … They should be involved in dialogue, in planning, in decisions — made to feel they are an active and full part of the Church and, above all, called to bring the Gospel to their peers.”

For Elliott, one of the most meaningful takeaways from the Congress was the emphasis on building bridges between generations. Pope Francis has often spoken of the vital “alliance” between young people and the elderly — one rooted in the words of the prophet Joel: “Your old shall dream dreams, and your young shall see visions” (Joel 2:28).

“The prophecy of Joel came up a lot,” Elliott recalls. “Pope Francis talked about how dreams and visions must come together. Vision alone risks becoming materialistic. But dreams without vision lack direction. Together, they form something complete.”

Pope Francis describes the elderly as bearers of memory and wisdom, deep roots that nourish young people’s hope and growth. He suggests that elderly people who know how to discern are great assets to young people, and he warns against discarding or isolating older generations, instead calling for shared dreaming, especially in a fragmented and individualistic world.

Elliott shares a personal story that illustrates this intergenerational connection. “I was praying after Mass when an elderly parishioner approached me and said, ‘We don’t know your name, but please know, we pray for you.’ ” It was a quiet moment of grace, reminding him how the prayers and presence of the elderly ground and sustain the Church’s future.

Last weekend the Church celebrated the Feast of Saints Anne and Joachim and marked the World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly. This week, it stepped into the Jubilee of Youth. And now, Elliott brings to his new role in Sandhurst Youth Ministry, a heart formed by a deep appreciation of the connection between generations, and a desire to help young people discover their place in the life of the Church. With the Australian Catholic Youth Festival ahead, Elliott is looking forward to accompanying young people as they grow in faith, build community and listen to the Spirit at work – both in dreams and visions.