Scottish Catholic Observer

Young pupils from Edinburgh will be at the heart of Pope Benedict XVI’s UK visit when they report news of the Holy Father’s arrival in Scotland to thousands of listeners live on radio.

The team of four pupils from St Thomas of Aquin’s High School will be reporting for Heart Gives Unto Heart, the Papal visit radio station and they hope to be present at Edinburgh Airport today for the Holy Father’s arrival on Scottish soil.

The four pupils—Anna Doherty, Hannah Wade, James Denholm and Matthew Murray—had the opportunity last week to meet the station’s director Gerry Coates to be briefed about their role and the station’s founder was suitably impressed with the youngsters’ keenness to be involved with the Papal visit in their own unique way.

Enthusiasm

“I met the pupils at the school last Monday and they all have the main ingredient, which is great enthusiasm,” Mr Coates said.

He confirmed that the pupils will be forming the station’s live coverage from Scotland on the historic day and will be attending as many events as possible throughout Thursday.

“We are hoping to get them out to the airport and they will then cover the St Ninian’s Day Parade before travelling through to Glasgow for the Mass at Bellahouston Park,” Mr Coates said. “It is very exciting for the pupils and they have a great responsibility.

“I have told them to work with a smile on their faces and I think they will produce some great reports for us.”

Papal radio station

Heart Gives Unto Heart will be broadcast throughout the four-day Papal visit covering the Holy Father’s celebrations in Scotland before he moves on to London and Birmingham, where he will conclude his visit with the celebration of Mass for the Beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman.

Programmes providing coverage, reports and discussions by young Catholics following His Holiness will run from 7am to midnight from Tuesday September 14 to Monday 20.

“The radio station is another part of my ‘crusade’ to give Catholic young people, who have creative talent, an outlet for their gifts within the Church,” Mr Coates said.

Mr Coates also runs a young Catholic art exhibition and a faith poetry publishing project, said.

— To listen to the Heart Gives Unto Heart Papal visit radio station and find more information about the project visit the website: http://heartgivesuntoheart.co.uk

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