On the Feast of Saing Joachim and Anne, parents of Mary and as the Pope suggested, Jesus’ “grandparents”, Pope Francis encouraged young people to visit the elderly.
“On the memorial of the Saints Joachim and Anne, Jesus ‘grandparents’, I would like to invite the young to perform a gesture of tenderness towards the elderly, especially the loneliest, in their homes and residences, those who have not seen their loved ones for many months,” Pope Francis said. “Dear young people, each one of these elderly people is your grandparent! Do not leave them by themselves.
“Use the inventiveness of love, make telephone calls, video calls, send messages, listen to them and, where possible, in compliance with the healthcare rules, go to visit them too. Send them a hug. They are your roots. An uprooted tree cannot grow, it does not blossom or bear fruit. This is why the bond and connection with your roots is important. ‘The blossom of a tree comes from what it has underground”’ says a poet from my homeland. Therefore I invite you to give a big round of applause for our grandparents, everyone!”
