Benevento, an 86-year-old man calls the police to talk: the officers listen to him and Mastella praises them.

He simply needed someone to talk to. So Pellegrino, 86, called the Benevento Municipal Police, not to request assistance or report a problem, but for some company.

The elderly man lives alone after losing his wife a few months ago. The officers decided to stop and listen to him, exchanging a few words and offering him the support he needed.

A simple episode, but one that struck a chord with Benevento Mayor Clemente Mastella, who publicly acknowledged the officers' behavior. "My municipal police officers acted like Noah's sons, who—in the Bible—tenderly covered their elderly father and were immortalized by Michelangelo and Bernini," Mastella said.

The mayor then also recalled Pope Francis's teaching on caring for the elderly: "And they followed Pope Francis's lesson, which explained how tenderness toward the elderly leads to God."

Mastella announced he would like to meet the officers personally: "I'll congratulate them tomorrow at the City Hall, because this time they weren't monitoring the Highway Code, but humanity: which is more important."

But the mayor also wants to meet Pellegrino: "I'll go see Pellegrino too. He's a few years older than me, but we share the spirit of the wisest." Finally, Mastella emphasized the social value of that small gesture: "It's precious that this form of closeness and active concern is taking shape in our city community."

A phone call born out of loneliness thus transformed into a moment of listening and attention, with the municipal officers called, for once, not to enforce a law, but simply to stand by an elderly person.

What to know

Key points on the Benevento episode

Here is a summary of the main aspects related to the episode involving Pellegrino and the Benevento Municipal Police.

Who is Pellegrino: An 86-year-old man living alone after the loss of his wife.
Reason for the call: He contacted the police for company, not for intervention.
Agents' reaction: The officers listened to Pellegrino, offering support and closeness.
Mayor's comment: Clemente Mastella praised the officers' humanity, emphasizing the importance of caring for the elderly.
Social value: The episode highlights the importance of community and solidarity towards lonely people.