Pope Benedict XV as perceived by his great nephew

(Vatican Radio) When Saint Pius X died on the 20th of August 1914 Europe had been at war for almost a month. In the ensuing conclave the choice of the cardinals fell on someone they believed had the necessary diplomatic skills to face up to a war time  pontificate.

That's why, it seems, they elected  Giacomo della Chiesa who was a respected and trained diplomat. But who exactly was this man from Genoa who took the name of  Benedict XV, diplomatic skills apart? That’s what Veronica Scarisbrick attempts to find out  in an interview with his great nephew Marquis Benedetto della Chiesa.

Listen to Veronica Scarisbrick’s archive interview with the great nephew of Benedict XV: