Pope Benedict XVI is 'warm and sweet'

His books lie on my desk, a tangible reminder of the astounding news this week.

Pope Benedict XVI will resign from papal office on Feb. 28, breaking a 600-year-old tradition.

As a religion writer, I have read every Vatican story that crossed my desk in the city Newsroom during the past eight years, trying to get to know Joseph Ratzinger, the man who became pope.

But it was my freelance work for the Tiverton-Little Compton Patch that gave me a window into the world of the Vatican.

In October 2011, I drove to The Commons Lunch in Little Compton for an interview with Dr. Joseph “Joe” H. Hagan, a local who visited the restaurant every morning after daily Mass at St. Catherine of Siena Parish.

While serving as president of Assumption College in Worcester, Mass., Hagan became a trustee of John Cabot University in Rome and was appointed as a Gentleman-in-Waiting at the Vatican, a position he has held for the past 22 years.

It is the duty of a Gentleman-in-Waiting to escort dignitaries and heads of state to an audience with the pope.

Consequently, Hagan served Pope John Paul II, now Blessed John Paul II, from his appointment in 1991 until the pontiff’s death in 2005; and Pope Benedict XVI from the time of his election that same year to the present.

Hagan described Pope Benedict as very traditional, warm and sweet.

“He has a beautiful personality,” Hagan said. “You can see it in his face.”

Today, I received an email from Father Giorgio Rizzieri, the Catholic chaplain of Rome Fiumicino International Airport in Italy.

A few years ago, he commented on one of my stories, and since then we have been correspondents.

When I heard the news of Pope Benedict’s resignation, I emailed Father Giorgio to hear his reaction.

“I have touching memories of my encounters with him each time he had to board a flight for an apostolic journey,” Father Giorgio said.

He added that he will always remember the pope’s calm demeanor, gentle smile and fatherly concern, especially his words of thanks and encouragement for his ministry.

“I will bring this with me for the rest of my life,” he said.

Father Giorgio wrote that the pope’s legacy will be the genuine experience of faith focused on reason.

“Every Wednesday I looked forward to listening to his catechesis at the General Audience – true delicious nourishings of mind and spirit,” he said. “He taught all Catholics to be strictly united in the Church and to be bold enough to swim against the tide of the politically correct. His ultimate effort for this target was his recent proclamation of a hopefully fruitful Year of Faith.”

Easter at our house

There is a flurry of activity around us. Buds bust out of tree limbs, birds make nests, insects buzz by.

”Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime,” said Martin Luther.

 In preparation for Easter, I wash windows, hang summer curtains, dust furniture, shop for groceries, cook for days, set the table for 17, affix a bunny to the front door, put up a bright red geranium flag, and tie colorful plastic Easter eggs to the trees.

Two tables will be pulled together to accommodate family and friends. We are all believers: Roman Catholics, Protestants and Mormons.

Instead of the traditional Easter ham, I will serve turkey with all the fixings, beginning with a fresh fruit cup topped with rainbow sherbet, homemade chicken soup filled with three peppercorn fettuccine, mixed greens with homemade French dressing, roast turkey, Mom’s green peppers stuffed with Grandma’s chourico dressing, mashed potatoes, Dawn’s green beans, carrot matchsticks cooked in broth, pickles and olives, cranberry sauce, and for dessert, Joey’s birthday cake with ice cream.

The Mormon missionary will say the blessing.

“Of all the victories in the chronicles of humanity, none is so great, none so universal in its effects, none so everlasting in its consequences as the victory of the crucified Lord, who came forth from the tomb that first Easter morning,” said President Gordon B. Hinckley of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in “Images and Testimonies of The Living Christ.”

It is Holy Week; we carried palm branches through the streets of Jerusalem, ate the Last Supper in the upper room, fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane, wept at the foot of the cross, and now rejoice in the presence of the Resurrected Christ.

Holding a tiny hand, we will walk outside in search of colored Easter eggs. Yellow daffodils wave in the breeze. Pink azalea bushes are in full bloom, while the rhododendron buds strain in their casings.

The eggs will be unearthed: tucked in flower beds, inside oak tree roots, planted in the kitchen garden, hiding under pine needles. The basket will be brimming with blue, green, yellow, pink and purple eggs. The toddler will grab an egg with his tiny fist and scream with delight as it opens.

“If we attend to the witnesses with listening hearts and open ourselves to the signs by which the Lord again and again authenticates both them and himself, then we know that he is truly risen,” said Pope Benedict XVI in “Jesus of Nazareth – Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection.” “He is alive.”