The present Pope is very good at short homilies, something I could never do. Today is my 88th birthday so I was particularly taken with these few words about “the elderly” . . .
“Do not forget the tree. Never forget the elderly. A tree without roots can neither grow nor flower. Let us not discard the elderly; they are not throwaway material. They are a living memory. From them comes forth the lifeblood that allows everything to grow. Let us nurture dialogue between the young and the old, so that this wisdom which helps them grow and bloom might be passed on.“
In the video on Instagram he had notes in front of him but this short piece seemed to come out spontaneously. He is not a young man (he is 85), so perhaps it came very much from the heart.
