Tales of Scarlet and the Church of Sant'Agostino in Rome..

(Vatican Radio) As Pope Francis visits a Church in Rome dedicated to Saint Augustine on Wednesday 28th of August, we take a look at the story leading up to its building. A story which puts a Frenchman into the picture ...

The key to this information lies in the huge lettering right across the facade of this Church known as 'Sant' Agostino' . If you crane your neck far enough upwards to the left of the main door you can read the words : 'Guillermus de Estoutevilla'. The name of the Frenchman in question: Cardinal Guillaume d'Estouteville, Archbishop of Rouen in Normandy and Camerlengo of the Catholic Church.

The unusual element in this story is that most of the Churches in Rome were built by popes rather than cardinals. But if you listen to this feature produced by Veronica Scarisbrick you can hear historian Stella Fletcher unravel all kinds of anecdotes connected to it. From the speed at which it was built, to d'Estouteville's role as middleman between the King of France and the Pope,

And..you'll also discover a connection with no other than Joan of Arc!


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