2016-07-01 14:30:00

(Vatican Radio) Vatican Weekend for July 2, 2016 features a special programme stemming from a remark made by Pope Francis relating to the concentration and extermination camp of Auschwitz Birkenau which he is scheduled to visit at the end of July. In a remark made during the inflight press conference on his way back to Rome from Armenia when reflecting on his upcoming journey to Poland he said that in a place like this, he likes to reflect silently, “alone,” praying that the Lord might grant him “the grace of crying.” So to set the scene for this sobering visit we bring you a couple of features focusing on the visits there of his predecessors to the See of Peter: Benedict XVI and Saint John Paul II. On a different note, for the series 'Blood, Sweat and Tears in the Bible' we share with you the story of the Prophet Nathan, recounted for us by scripture scholar and Archbishop of Brisbane in Australia Mark Benedict Coleridge. The programme ends with our popular 'Latin Lover', Carmelite Father Reginald Foster speaking to us of a man whose mausoleum lies opposite the front of our building here at Vatican Radio. You may have guessed he's no other than the Roman Emperor Hadrian.

A programme presented and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick: