The Holy See has buried a homeless man in the Teutonic College within Vatican City State, a cemetery normally reserved for senior German clerics.

According to Vatican Radio, Willy was of Flemish origin and a familiar face to many in the area of the Vatican, spending his days and nights on the streets around St. Peter's Square, Borgo Pio and Via di Porta Angelica.

Willy, who was believed to be around 80 years-old died from exposure to the cold on December 12, but his body remained at a city morgue for nearly a month because no one could identify him.

When those used to seeing him on the streets noticed his absence and began to search for him he was finally traced to the hospital in Lungotevere in Sassia on the banks of the Tiber.

The costs of his funeral on January 9 were covered by a German-speaking family, the funeral was held in the chapel of the Teutonic Cemetery, and Willy was buried in the old Germanic cemetery, in Vatican City State.

Willy's burial in the Vatican is being seen as another example of Pope Francis focus on welfare and dignity of the poor.

In January the Vatican announced that homeless people in Rome would be given free haircuts and shaves at barbers in St Peter's Square.