As the Universal Church celebrated the great joy of Easter Sunday and the resurrection of Christ, the world was treated with a special and surprise visit of a convalescing Pope Francis appearing on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, even in his grave condition, to give his traditional "Urbi and Orbi" blessing to the Church and to the world.

 His doctors had sent him home with orders to rest and stay away from crowds but the pontiff, with his pastor's heart, had other plans. And so, on Holy Thursday, April 17, he went to visit the prisoners at Regina Coeli prison, as was his Holy Week tradition. And then Sunday, he appeared to more than 250,000 gathered in St. Peter's Square to hear his Easter message read by a bishop and hear his faint and feeble voice say "Bona Pasqua" ... Happy Easter … and to pass his hand over the crowd with a papal blessing.

As if this were not enough, he then got into his world famous "Pope Mobile" and went through the crowds, blessing babies and the faithful.

Easter Monday morning, the sad news reached us that he had gone to the Father's house. His Petrine mission was complete, and the world began to mourn this gentle priest with a heart for the poor and the forgotten. We will never forget his smile even to the very end, and his love of all. May this good and noble soul rest in peace.

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Rhode Island has lost a strong and committed leader with the news of the death of Senate President Domenick Ruggerio on Easter Monday morning. I was privileged to have known and admired President Ruggerio and to be his guest at the State House many times to give the annual St. Joseph Day prayer for the Rhode Island Senate. Each year he would give a commemorative gift to his guests, and the cufflinks he gave one year with the Rhode Island and U.S. flags will be a lifelong reminder of this strong and kind leader.

A devout Catholic, despite many pressures, he never wavered on controversial items, especially abortions, and stood tall when other Catholics faltered. He always put his faith and his convictions first and endured many a tidal wave of opposition.

We will miss him and commend his good soul to the Lord, whom he loved and served all his life. May he rest in peace. 

The Rev. Robert Marciano is the pastor of St. Kevin Church, chaplain of the Warwick police and fire departments and the past president of Bishop Hendricken High School.