"Pope's picture sits in a throne-like chair here, sort of an homage to the pope sitting in the chair of Peter. His picture is cloaked with a black stole, a sign of mourning, but that's not the end of the story because right next to him, you see the Easter candle, and the Easter candle is a symbol of resurrection," Zarkowski said. "And so it's the mystery of faith that we're looking at, the mystery of life and death, and ultimately new life. The very same thing that we celebrated this past week."
While some have criticized the late pontiff for progressive stances on social issues, Zerkowski said his commitment to inclusivity, serving the most vulnerable, and the ability to connect on a personal level are why he became known as the people's pope.
