Pope Francis mourns the death of Burkhard Scheffler, who died on November 25 on the steps of the colonnade of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Silvija Krivteza – Vatican
The homeless man’s health, already compromised by life on the street, was further aggravated by the cold and rain. Burkhard Scheffler was born in 1961 in Germany. In Rome he lived on the streets and was assisted by the Vatican Charity Office. The director of the press service of the Holy See, Mateo Bruni, stressed that Pope Francis welcomed the news of the homeless man’s death with sadness and prayed for Burkhardt, as well as for those people who are forced to live without a roof over their heads in Rome and in the world. The Holy Father invites the faithful to join in common prayer.
The head of the Vatican charity office, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who happened to be in Assisi that day, entrusted Burkhardt to the protection of St. Francis.
