The funeral ceremonies for António Lobo Antunes were held this Saturday at the Jerónimos Monastery Church, in Lisbon. Family and friends said their final goodbye to one of the greatest names in Portuguese literature.
As the time for mass approached, those who wanted to say goodbye to António Lobo Antunes arrived at the Jerónimos Monastery church. From politics to the arts, from friends to family, everyone paid their last tribute.
Personalities such as the President of the Republic, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, the Mayor of Lisbon, but also other names such as Manuela Ramalho Eanes, Maria Rueff, Daniel Sampaio, Francisco Louçã and the writer Afonso Reis Cabral were present.
“I have no words that honor all the importance that António Lobo Antunes had for me, personally. He was my father’s psychiatrist. Therefore, that book, ‘Memória de Elefante’, saved me. I had the privilege of saying this to him, of thanking him. As a Portuguese… we have just lost one of the best writers in the world, not just Portuguese, in the world! Personally, I have enormous gratitude for him!”, Maria Rueff told SIC in an emotional testimony.
Born in Lisbon, António Lobo Antunes had Benfica as his great passion. At parting time, came out to the sound of the club anthemwhich he sung so many times and which was played live and also sung by the family.
The writer is one of the biggest names in contemporary Portuguese literature. With a work deeply marked by his experience in the Colonial War, he was author of more than 30 novels. He died last Thursday, aged 83.
