Hundreds gather for the funeral Mass of Judge Frank Caprio

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Judge Frank Caprio, the Rhode Island jurist who became internationally known as “The Nicest Judge in the World,” will be laid to rest today following a funeral Mass that drew hundreds of mourners.

The Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. inside the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence. Archbishop Richard Henning presided over the service, which carried the solemnity of a state funeral, a tribute fitting for a man whose compassion and sense of justice touched lives far beyond the Ocean State.

On Thursday, thousands had already lined the Rhode Island Convention Center for a public visitation and remembrance ceremony. People traveled from across the United States and abroad to pay their respects, reflecting the global reach of Caprio’s influence through his television program Caught in Providence. Clips from the show, which highlighted his warmth and empathy in the courtroom, have been viewed more than a billion times worldwide.

Following today’s Mass, the funeral procession traveled down Atwells Avenue in Providence’s Federal Hill neighborhood, where Caprio grew up.

Judge Caprio will be laid to rest during a private burial at St. Ann Cemetery in Cranston.

Caprio, who died on August 20 at the age of 88 after battling pancreatic cancer, served as chief municipal judge in Providence for 38 years. He earned a reputation for blending fairness with compassion, often dismissing fines or easing penalties when defendants faced hardship.

His legacy lives on not only in the Rhode Island community he served, but also in the countless viewers around the world who found hope and kindness in his courtroom.