Italy’s carabinieri received an unusual request from a 94-year-old man who telephoned their operations center at Vergato, in the Bologna area, on Christmas Day.

The elderly man from Alto Reno told police that he was all alone and that he had everything except a physical person with whom to exchange a Christmas toast.

“If there were an officer available for 10 minutes, come and see me as I am all on my own.” On hearing of the phone call, the carabinieri decided to set out to find a delighted Signor Fiorenzo.
The police chatted with the pensioner and raised a Christmas toast with him before making a surprise video call to his relations.