Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, who is studying for an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy at The University of Palermo, uses his typewriter as he studies for an exam, at his home in Palermo, Italy, November 4, 2019. "Knowledge is like a suitcase that I carry with me, it is a treasure," Paterno said. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, wears a traditional laurel wreath awarded to Italian students when they graduate, as he attends his graduation day after completing his undergraduate degree in history and philosophy at the University of Palermo, in Palermo, Italy July 29, 2020. "I said, 'that's it, now or never,' and so in 2017, I decided to enrol," Paterno said. "I understood that it was a little late to get a three-year degree but I said to myself 'let's see if I can do it'." REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, is helped by his son Ninni Paterno, 72, to get up from his bed, two days before he graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, at Paterno's home in Palermo, Italy, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Philosophy books belonging to Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, stand on a shelf, a day before he graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, at his home in Palermo, Italy, July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, is awarded his graduation certificate after completing his undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, during his graduation at the University of Palermo, in Palermo, Italy, July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, uses his typewriter a day before he graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, at his home in Palermo, Italy, July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, goes over his study notes at his desk, a day before he graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, at his home in Palermo, Italy, July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, takes his final exam online, for his undergraduate degree that he has been studying for in history and philosophy at the University of Palermo, using a laptop at his home, due to social distancing measures implemented during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Palermo, Italy, June 23, 2020. Paterno confessed to a little unease with the video calls that replaced classroom teaching during the coronavirus shutdown, but said he was not put off by the disease itself after the war and everything else he had been through in life. "All of that strengthened us, all of my peer group, all of those who are still alive," he said. "It didn't really scare us that much." REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, celebrates with his family after graduating from his undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, during his graduation at the University of Palermo, in Palermo, Italy, July 29, 2020. "My project for the future is to devote myself to writing; I want to revisit all the texts I didn't have a chance to explore further. This is my goal," said Paterno. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Vintage radios sit on the bedside table of Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, a day before he graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, at his home in Palermo, Italy, July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, shaves his beard as he gets ready for the day, two days before he graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, at his home in Palermo, Italy, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, has breakfast in his kitchen, two days before he graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, at his home in Palermo, Italy, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, gestures to his carer, two days before he graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, at his home in Palermo, Italy, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, walks past a painting hung on the wall depicting his wedding day with his late wife Stefana Battaglia, who died in 2006, and Paterno, two days before he graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, at his home in Palermo, Italy, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, hugs a friend at a supermarket, two days before he graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, Italy, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, takes an elevator up to his apartment, as he returns home from the supermarket, two days before he graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, in Palermo, Italy, July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, marks his graduation date on July 29 on his calendar, a day before he graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, at his home in Palermo, Italy, July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

The University of Palermo, where Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, studied for his undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, stands prior to his graduation in Palermo, Italy, July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, attends his graduation, which had social distancing measures in place, after completing his undergraduate degree in history and philosophy at the University of Palermo, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Palermo, Italy, July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, celebrates after graduating from his undergraduate degree in history and philosophy during his graduation at the University of Palermo, in Palermo, Italy, July 29, 2020. "I am a normal person, like many others," Paterno said, when asked what it felt like to be graduating so late. "In terms of age I have surpassed all the others but I didn't do it for this." REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, poses for the media as he attends his graduation after completing his undergraduate degree in history and philosophy at the University of Palermo, in Palermo, Italy, July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, poses for a photograph, a day before he graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, at his home in Palermo, Italy, July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

The gravestone of the late Stefana Battaglia, who died in 2006, the wife of Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, stands in the cemetery Santa Maria dei Rotoli, a day before Paterno graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, in Palermo, Italy, July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Religious icons sit amongst stationery items belonging to Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, a day before he graduates from The University of Palermo with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, at his home in Palermo, Italy, July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

The graduation certificate of Giuseppe Paterno's, 96, Italy's oldest student, who completed his undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, is pictured at the University of Palermo, in Palermo, Italy, July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane SEARCH "ITALY'S OLDEST STUDENT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.