Age difference

I would say if he asks you out go for it, you never know, he might just want friendship, but he might want more, as you get to know him you will suss him out,
I know Italian men are good to their mothers, but also expect the women to do all household stuff
A friend of my daughters had a lovely Italian boyfriend but when she moved to Italy to be with him, she was expected to be up at the crack of dawn getting on with housework, he did nothing, so that didnt last long,
Of course it doesnt have to apply to all Italians [hopefully]

My three daughters go to church every week and my son works with the youth group in church, they have all met some lovely people through it, my son married a girl he met at a Christian holiday away and one of my daughters is going out with a boy from church but they have also made a lot of friends there.
It was 15 years between my husband and I

Yes Maw there is always that.
I can't 'see a widower, even a 'good looking Italian' one, going to church alone to meet women. He may, of course, be religious but to then go into the church hall for coffee with parishioners who I guess would be predominantly female...

ooh a toy boy. lol. maybe he's looking for new friends .i would take a friend with you for the first meeting. and I would find out a little more about him. ask one of church members... I bet he's married ..

Firstly a friendship can’t harm you and may actually bring joy into your life. Maybe arrange meetings in public venues away from your home if concerned. I’m sure you’re a smart lady who will be aware and able to recognise anything untoward that would extend further into involving your finances. My husband’s widowed mother married someone twenty years younger than herself - they actually enjoyed a very happy life together.

You maybe looked the most approachable. If he asks you out then it is your choice whether you want to go or not. Or you could say something like ‘ oh that would be nice, I have been wanting to go to.......... for ages’. Then you kind of have some control in the situation.

Am a bit surprised that most people have automatically put him into one of two boxes. Either a gold digger or someone looking for a relationship of some kind. Maybe he just wants to make friends.

Oops!
Just thinking the appeal of the older woman perhaps...?

Atqui
You might if he was fit, wealthy, wore beautiful clothes and made you feel perfectly special, like a ...a 'young' woman.

I think it was a bit of an unwitting back-handed compliment, saying that the OP would be ok with the Italian gentleman as Italians are known for being good to their mothers.
Just a gentle dig, MawBroon

I would err on the side of caution, so a thorough background check is in order if things start to move forward.

Seniors and older (single) women in particular are a prime target for con artists. Enjoy his company but keep your purse shut and your eyes wide open.

Enjoy his company and see how the friendship progresses. I have friends, male and female, of all ages and am far more interested in the interests we share than in their birth dates.
As a previous poster suggested, introduce him to other people at the church so that he can feel part of the community. There are probably church social events and fund raisers to go to, assuming that he's genuine and settled locally, he should welcome the opportunity to make more friends.
For you or some other lucky lady he does sound quite a catch, straight from the pages of a romantic novel!

Fingers crossed he asks you go for it?

Atqui, I know what you are saying. I do not intend to marry again after 54 years of happiness with a Trinidadian Indian man. However I would like the occasional date with a good looking man with lovely brown eyes... I'm a sucker for brown eyes.
It hasn't happened yet and maybe nothing more will come of it than coffee after church in the church hall. Even that is nice. Thank you to those who wish me well.

Sorry if I’m being cynical here, but most of you who have posted that you have younger male partners ,say that you have been together happily for many years . I think that an age gap is not so significant if both parties are younger when they meet and have grown up together into retirement age. I’m only just 70 and I can’t see myself starting a relationship with a man of 55, even though I enjoy socialising with men of all ages.

If he is has more in mind!! than sharing a table for coffee let him do the asking. Make sure if he invites you out that the first or even second meeting is where others are present and regardless of age whether you could see yourself if the subject is presented wanting to be more than friends.
You would not be the first to have a younger than oneself admirer as it is often said 'age is but a number'.
Good luck.

Exactly MissA
Another belly laugh from you.

My mum used to say it, along with
"They don't look at the mantlepiece when they're poking the fire".
She was a font of wisdom, that woman!

MissAdventure
It's decades since I heard that saying. ???

AnnaramL.....nothing ventured nothing gained. Go for it and have some fun. Just be on your guard and if money is mentioned run for the hills.?

...and this is one gransnetter who is most certainly not jealous of your 'fancy man'.
He's too old for me.

Keep your hand on your ha'penny.

Annaram1

Hey! It might just be a town near me. There is a garden centre near there and a local theatre which offers London screenings.
I must look out for a green Jag.

There was a singles club night Maw probably in the church hall that the OP never bothered with.

I dont think there was any mention of a dating club or have I missed something?
It was a church service surely?

I don’t think you are too vulnerable for exploitation because:

A) you seem to not have been desperate to meet someone or you would have joined the dating club at church

B) you have posted your concerns here showing that you are aware of possible issues.

A good friend of mine met a local man in Havana/Cuba when on holiday. She was 50 and he was of similar age. They married and lived in England when he realised that she was not as wealthy as he had thought and both became unhappy due to cultural differences. I think the marriage lasted no more than 2 years. She was initially so flattered and thought of her relationship as an adventure and a change to her dreary life.

Italian culture of course cannot be compared to Cuban culture.... - just be careful.