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A recently deceased homeless man who used to beg near St Peter’s Basilica has been buried within the Vatican alongside the graves of bishops and princes.
A German-speaking family paid for the remains of Willy Herteller to be laid to rest in the Vatican’s medieval Teutonic Cemetery.
Herteller, who died aged 80 in December, was a “familiar face” to people in the Vatican.
Some clergy would bring him food.
“For over 25 years he attended the 7:00 Mass,” said Fr Bruno Silvestrini, pastor of the Church of St Anne in the Vatican.
“He was very, very open and had made many friends. He spoke a lot with young people, he spoke to them of the Lord, he spoke of the Pope, he would invite them to the celebration of the Eucharist.”
Church officials had reportedly tried to help Herteller find a permanent place to live, but the man eventually ended up back on the street.
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