Saying Farewell to José Carlos de Sousa, the Poet-Homeless
At 61 years old, José Carlo de Sousa, one of the many homeless individuals who reside around the area of San Pietro, has passed away. He was a poet-clochard from Brazil, and his funeral took place yesterday on October 15th at the chapel of Santa Monica. The ceremony was officiated by Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, the archbishop of Manaus, and Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Papal Almoner.
A Tribute to José Carlos de Sousa, the Poet-Homeless
According to Vatican News, the 61-year-old was suffering from a liver disease and spent his nights on the streets. In his final days, when people approached to offer help, he would ask for notebooks. He would then use his eyes to observe others, whether they were tourists or believers, drawing inspiration for his poetry. One of his verses reads, “I hardly speak on the streets or anywhere else, I just watch, listen, think, and sometimes write to not be alone in the world.”
The Funeral of José Carlos de Sousa
“In the almost nothingness, there is a truly evangelical brotherhood,” expressed Cardinal Steiner. In his homily, Krajeswki highlighted that, “He didn’t look his best, but in the colonnade, he was like an angel guiding the faithful who were heading to the basilica.” Cardinal Steiner mentioned that it was a privilege to preside over the funeral rites, to the extent that he took a break from the Synod, which is ongoing at the Vatican until October 27th.
A Flower for José Carlos from the Homeless
Cardinal Steiner revealed that at the conclusion of the funeral rite, as the casket was being carried, homeless men and women laid a flower in honor of José Carlos de Sousa. “It is a sign that God’s life blossoms even in death, and those who have benefited the most are us,” concluded the cardinal.
