Vatican City, Jul 26, 2020 / 05:40 am
Pope Francis asked young people Sunday to reach out to the elderly, especially those in nursing homes, to send a message of encouragement amid the loneliness of the coronavirus pandemic.
"In the memory of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus, I would like to invite young people to make a gesture of tenderness towards the elderly, especially the most lonely ones in homes and residences, those who have not seen their loved ones for many months," Pope Francis said after the Angelus prayer on July 26.
"Dear young people, each of these elderly people are your grandparents. Do not leave them alone. … They are your roots," the pope added.
Pope Francis suggested that young people can use the "inventiveness of love" to "send a hug" to an elderly person in their community by making a phone or video call, sending a card, or making a visit when safety measures allow.