Five years have passed since Francisco Erasmo Rodrigues de Lima, a father of four, a bricklayer, an alcoholic, divorced, and homeless man, was murdered on the steps of the Sé Cathedral in São Paulo, Brazil.
A woman praying in church was taken hostage by a fugitive criminal.
Francisco didn’t hesitate; he knew what he had to do. He lit his last cigarette, held it firmly between his lips, threw himself at the bandit, freed the woman, and was shot dead by the criminal.
While Francisco gave his life in defense of that woman, a crowd watched and filmed, but only Francisco, a homeless man, ostracized by society, viewed as a bandit, was capable of giving his life for a complete stranger.
May this man always be remembered for his act of bravery and heroism.
Thoughts?