Aristides de Sousa Mendes defied his superiors in handing out visas in 1940 while consul in France; he was later ostracized before being recognized by Yad Vashem and his country
Portugal paid official homage Tuesday to Aristides de Sousa Mendes, a Portuguese diplomat who during World War II helped save thousands of people from Nazi persecution, by placing a tomb with his name in the country s National Pantheon.