World praise for the Italian police "they bring Christmas cheer to lonely elderly people"

It has now been a century and a half since the Roman police actually worked for the pope, but despite 2020 marking the 150th anniversary of the pope's loss of temporal power, at Christmas the police in Rome once again made the right arm of the pontiff, reaching out to the isolated and vulnerable elderly whose care is a constant concern of Pope Francis.

On Christmas Eve, an 80-year-old man living in a retirement home in the Italian city of Terni, who was unable to see his children or relatives for the holidays due to strict anti-COVID restrictions in Italy, called the the country's emergency number to speak to the police and wish them happy holidays. The operator who received the call spent several minutes talking to the man, who thanked the police for the service.

Several hours later, in the early hours of Christmas morning, the police were called to assist a 77-year-old woman found wandering the streets of nearby Narni.

A passer-by who saw the woman, described as being in "a confused state," called the police and waited with her until they arrived. Once the police arrived on the scene, they learned that she was living alone and had walked out of the house. Her son was then called to pick her up and take her home.

Later on December 25, a 94-year-old man named Malavoltti Fiorenzo del Vergato, in Bologna, called the city police department to say he was feeling lonely and wanted to share a toast with someone.

"Good morning, my name is Malavoltti Fiorenzo, I'm 94 and I'm alone at home", he said on the phone, adding: "I don't miss anything, I only need a physical person with whom I can exchange a Christmas crostini."

Fiorenzo asked if an agent was available to come on a 10-minute visit to chat with him, “because I'm alone. I'm 94, my children are far away and I'm depressed “.

During the visit, Fiorenzo told the two officers stories about his life, including some concerning his father-in-law, Marshal Francesco Sferrazza, who commanded the Italian station of Arma di Porretta Terme during the Second World War. After exchanging a toast with Fiorenzo, the officers organized a video call to relatives.

Days earlier, police from the same area assisted another elderly person who was left in the cold for days due to a problem with the central heating in their apartment.

Likewise, around 2pm. On Christmas day, the Milan Police Headquarters received a call from a woman named Fedora, 87, the widow of a retired policeman.

Fedora, who said she was alone at home, called to wish the police a Merry Christmas and invite some of them for a chat. A short time later, four officers showed up at her door and spent some time talking to her and listening to her talk about the time her late husband spent working with the State Police.

Care for the elderly has long been a priority for Pope Francis, who has shown particular concern for them during the coronavirus pandemic, particularly deadly for people in old age.

In July, he inaugurated a Vatican social media campaign called "The elderly are your grandparents", urging young people to somehow reach out to elderly isolated due to the coronavirus, by sending them a "virtual hug" via a phone call, a video call either a personal picture or a note sent.

Just last month, Francis launched another holiday campaign for seniors, titled "A Gift of Wisdom", and encourages young people to turn their thoughts to seniors who may be alone with the coronavirus during the holiday season. .

Particular concern has arisen for older people living in nursing homes or other care facilities, which have become breeding grounds for both COVID-19 and loneliness caused by long blockages where in-person visits with relatives are prohibited. due to the social distancing measures implemented to prevent contagion.

In Europe, which has a rapidly aging population, older people have been a particular source of concern, especially in Italy, where older people make up about 60 percent of the population, many of whom live alone or because they have no family, or their children have moved abroad.

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the problem of lonely elderly people was a problem that Italy had to address. In August 2016, during the slow summer holidays in the country, police officers who came to the aid of an elderly couple in Rome felt crying with loneliness and desperate for watching negative news on television.

On that occasion, the carabinieri prepared pasta for the couple, who said they hadn't received visitors for years and were saddened by the situation in the world.

On 22 September, the Italian Ministry of Health announced that it had formed a new commission for assistance to the elderly in the light of the coronavirus pandemic and that the high Vatican official for matters on life, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, had been chosen as president.

Earlier this month, the Commission of Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) issued a message calling for a social change in the way older people are viewed and treated in light of both the current pandemic and a significant change in demographic trends in the continent's rapidly aging population.

In their message, the bishops offered several suggestions, including policies that make life easier for families and health workers, and changes to the care system that aim to prevent loneliness and poverty among the elderly.