The Vatican launches a campaign for lonely seniors amid COVID-19

Following an appeal by Pope Francis over the weekend for young people to reach out to elderly people in their area who are isolated due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Vatican launched a social media campaign urging young people to speak up. of the pope to the heart.

“The pandemic has particularly affected the elderly and has disconnected the already weak links between generations. However, respecting the rules of social estrangement does not mean accepting a destiny of loneliness and abandonment, "reads a statement from the Vatican office for the laity, family and life on July 27, which is overseeing the effort.

"It is possible to reduce the isolation experienced by the elderly by rigorously observing the health guidelines for COVID-19," they said, echoing Pope Francis' appeal after his Sunday Angelus speech, which coincided with the liturgical feast of Saints Joachim and Anna, that of Jesus grandparents.

The pontiff invited young people "to make a gesture of tenderness towards the elderly, especially the most lonely, in their homes and residences, those who have not seen their loved ones for many months".

“Each of these older people is your grandfather! Don't leave them alone, "said the pope, and encouraged young people to use" the inventiveness of love "to get in touch, either through phone calls, video calls, written messages or, if possible, personal visits.

"Send them a hug," he said, insisting that "An uprooted tree cannot grow, bloom, or bear fruit. That's why bonding and connecting with your roots is important. "

In line with sentiment, the office for the laity, family and life has named their campaign "The elderly are your grandparents", echoing Francis' appeal.

The Vatican office for lay people, family and life has launched a campaign entitled "The elderly are your grandparents", urging young people to reach the elderly in their area who are isolated due to coronavirus. (Credit: the Vatican office for lay people, family and life.)

Urging young people to make a kind of gesture "that shows kindness and affection for older people who may feel lonely", the office noted that since the start of the pandemic, they have received stories of numerous initiatives to reach out to the elderly, including phone or video calls, connection through social media, serenades outside nursing homes.

During the first phase of the campaign, when the requirements for social removal are still in force in different countries of the world, the Vatican encourages young people to look for elderly people in their neighborhoods and parishes and to "send them a hug, according to the Pope's request, through a phone call, a video call or by sending an image “.

"Where possible - or when the health emergency permits - we invite young people to make the hug even more concrete by visiting the elderly in person," they said.

The campaign is promoted on social media through the hashtag "#sendyourhug", with the promise that the most visible posts will be present on the Twitter account of the Laici, Famiglia e Vita office.