Vatican Radio: The Pope’s Rosary and the new edition of “The Gospel Inside” among the key events during Lent

The Secretariat for Communication of the Holy See strengthens synergy with the Catholic world and starts professional training for radio commentaries of liturgical events.

Vatican Radio Italy’s programming for Lent is underway. Starting on Sunday, February 18, the Rosary recited by the pope will be broadcast. It will be on the air every day at 8:00 p.m., using a recording made by the Secretariat for Communication of the Holy See in collaboration with Editrice Paoline, which will be in charge of distributing the product on CD through its chain of bookstores.

“The Gospel Inside,” back on the air

On Ash Wednesday, “The Gospel Inside” (“Il Vangelo Dentro”) series will continue, born from a collaboration with the Office of Papal Charities. The guests are 12 prisoners of Rebibbia prison, who will comment on the readings during Lent in interviews with Davide Dionisi. Each episode will go on the air daily from Monday to Saturday at 1:25 p.m., 4:40 p.m., and 6:25 p.m. The 4:40 broadcast will be preceded by a reflection on “life in prison” with a panel of experts and people with experience in working in prisons, chaired by Stefano Leszczynski and by other Vatican Radio Italy journalists coordinated by Luca Collodi.

Liturgical broadcasts

Another three broadcasts should be mentioned: Lauds (every day at 6:05 a.m.), Vespers (Sundays at 6:30 p.m.), and Compline (every day at 10:00 p.m.), an integral part of Vatican Radio Italy’s liturgical programming, produced by the Italian Episcopal Conference in the framework of a more and more fruitful collaboration with the Secretariat for Communication of the Holy See. The effectiveness of this effort is also confirmed by the recently inaugurated collaboration in the area of radio commentaries on liturgical events, with the goal of creating a course of professional training for journalists within the organization called upon to provide live commentary on papal ceremonies and other liturgical celebrations.

Other programming for Lent

“Meditation Horizons: Reading Within, with the Gospel of Mark” (“Orizzonti Meditazione: Leggersi dentro, con il Vangelo di Marco”), a broadcast curated by Monia Parente and Rosario Tronnolone, which takes inspiration from the liturgical season, will see the arrival of meditations by Fr. Gaetano Piccolo, S.J. during Lent (every day, except Friday, at 6:31 a.m., rebroadcast at 10:20 p.m.).
Every Friday, during the series “The Pope Yesterday and Today” (“Il Papa ieri eoggi”, every day from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.), Fabio Colagrande, Federico Piana, and Antonella Palermo speak live with a parish of Rome to talk about a pastoral initiative related to Lent.
In addition, during the programs “Radio Story” (“Radio racconto”) on Saturdays (2:35 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.) and “Encounters” (“Incontri”) on Sundays (at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.), Fr. Fabio Rosini presents “The Last Words” (“Le ultime parole”), catechesis on the seven words of Christ on the Cross, an eight-part series, on the air until the second Sunday of Easter.

Vatican Radio Italy can be heard on 103.8 FM and 105 FM in Rome and the surrounding province. In Italy, on channel 733 of Digitale Televisivo Terrestre; on digital radio DAB+, and streaming on the Vatican News website (www.vaticannews.va).