Covid-19: Dicastery for Laity,
Family and Life calls for prayers for the elderly
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| Pope Francis meets with the elderly during a parish visit (file photo) (Vatican Media) |
The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life calls for prayers
for the elderly, and for action so that they do not remain alone.
By Christopher Wells
The Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life is calling on
everyone to do more to help the elderly, especially during the coronavirus
emergency. In a letter released
on their website on Tuesday, the Dicastery says, “Our concerns and grateful
thoughts go out to [the elderly] today, to return at least a little of that
tenderness with which each of us has been accompanied in life, and that the
maternal caress of the Church reach each of them”.
Loneliness
While noting that the elderly have been particularly hard
hit by Covid-19, the Dicastery also focuses on the loneliness faced by many
older people. Quoting Pope Francis, it says that “loneliness can be a disease,
but with charity, closeness, and spiritual comfort we can heal it”. Loneliness
can be an underlying condition that complicates the physical issues that arise
from the coronavirus, and for this reason, the Dicastery says, “it is important
to do everything possible to remedy this condition of abandonment”. In the
current crisis, it continues, “this could mean saving lives”.
Solidarity networks
Although social distancing norms sadly make home visits
impossible, the Dicastery recognizes how people are finding “new and creative
forms of presence” in order to be close to their loved ones. But, it continues,
“the gravity of the moment calls all of us to do more”, including praying for
the elderly, curing the disease of loneliness, and activating solidarity
networks, among other things. “We must devote new energies to defend the
elderly from this storm, just as each of us has been protected and cared for in
the small and large storms of our lives”.
“We cannot leave the elderly alone, because in solitude
the coronavirus kills more.”
Residential homes
The Dicastery calls for “special attention” for those in
residential facilities, who “face very difficult situations” despite the
devotion and sacrifices of the staff dedicated to their care, including at
times the ultimate sacrifice. “Despite the complexity of the situation we live
in, it is necessary to clarify that saving the lives of the elderly who live within
residential homes or who are alone or sick, is a priority as much as saving any
other person”. Quoting Pope Francis, the letter says that “the elderly are the
present and the tomorrow of the Church”.
Be not afraid
In “the love of many children and grandchildren”, as well as
that of assistants and volunteers, the Dicastery says, we can see revived, so
to speak, “the compassion of the women who went to the tomb to care for the
body of Jesus”. Like the women at the tomb we may be scared; but, while
maintaining necessary safety precautions, we know that we can do no less than
continue to live the compassion Jesus taught us. And “like these women”, the
Dicastery says, “we will soon understand that it was essential to remain close
to those in need, even when it seemed dangerous or useless, confident of the
words spoken by the angel, inviting us not to be afraid”.
A call to prayer
The Dicastery concludes its letter with a call “to join in
prayer for grandparents and elderly around the world”, inviting everyone “to
gather around them with our thoughts and prayers, and when possible, let’s act,
so that they are not alone”.
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