This is a two-part series by Religion News Service exploring how the solitude that many people are experiencing as they isolate during the coronavirus pandemic is interacting with their faith.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — During his solitary morning Mass at Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis’ prayers are often for the elderly. This is not an accident, as the coronavirus pandemic has pushed this normally isolated demographic into further isolation.
“We pray today for the elderly, especially those who are isolated or in retirement homes,” Francis said in his livestreamed homily April 15. “They are afraid, afraid of dying alone. They experience this pandemic as something aggressive against them.”
For those trapped at home during quarantine, the internet has been a window to the outside, allowing them to stay in touch with friends, loved ones, book groups and houses of worship. Video meeting apps, such as Skype and Zoom, have witnessed a boom in users since the beginning of the outbreak.
Many elderly, who are less nimble with modern means of communication, are particularly at risk of feeling alone, says Thuy-vy Nguyen, an assistant professor of psychology at England’s Durham University.
“Generally, the elderly are pretty OK with having a lot of time alone,” Nguyen explained in a recent interview with Religion News Service. “What impacts them more is the perception that they…
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