Just replaced hard drive on vintage MacBook Pro. Could only upgrade to Catalina, which doesn't support Pages. Mac doesn't support Big Sur or Monterey which I need for Pages. Can't find another word processing app exc Word. Any ideas? Thanks.

Periodically, Apple requires specific versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for newer versions of macOS, and this is currently the case, where these application versions for Catalina ended at v11.1.

Launch the Catalina Mac App Store application and be signed in with the same Apple ID you were using with these applications prior to your drive replacement and operating system upgrade. Press command+0 (zero) and that will open a "Purchased" panel. If these applications appear there with an outline, blue cloud download symbol, click that, and you will be presented with a panel offering to install the last version (11.1) of the respective application for macOS Catalina.

If Pages, Numbers, and Keynote do not appear on the Purchased panel, then you will not be able to obtain these applications for macOS Catalina, and will need to use the iOS/iPadOS or iCloud versions of these applications, or a Mac capable of running Big Sur, Monterey, or eventually Ventura.

If you've ever downloaded Pages before, a compatible version should be attainable by going to the App Store, clicking on your name at the bottom of the Side Bar which will bring up past purchases.

A compatible version is only available if you purchased in the past.

You are welcome.