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Homeless Man Becomes Vatican's St. Peter
17 Dec
Summary
- A homeless man's likeness graces the Vatican as St. Peter.
- The artist first sketched the man in Rome in 2018.
- The man tragically died from cold near St. Peter's Square in 2022.
In a remarkable turn of events, a painting depicting a homeless man as St. Peter has found its place in the Vatican. German artist Michael Triegel first sketched Burkhard Scheffler, a homeless individual in Rome, in 2018, seeing in him the perfect embodiment of the first pope. Triegel's work was commissioned for a Protestant cathedral in Germany, aiming to complete a Renaissance altar panel.
Tragically, Scheffler died from the cold on November 25, 2022, near St. Peter's Square, an event that garnered the attention of Pope Francis, who prioritized care for the homeless. Scheffler was later buried in the Vatican's Teutonic cemetery, a stone's throw from where his likeness as St. Peter is now displayed.
The artwork, originally destined for Germany, was loaned to the Vatican's Teutonic College chapel. It was there that an expert recognized Scheffler, creating an emotional connection between the art, the man's life, and his final resting place. This coincidental proximity of the painting to Scheffler's grave offers a unique posthumous honor.
