The Spectator magazine is home to wonderful writing, insightful analysis and unrivaled books and arts reviews.

Subscribe today for just £12 and receive a 12 week subscription in print and online, along with a free £20 £10,000 or Waitrose Voucher.

Go to spectator.com. UK forward slash voucher.

Hello and welcome to Spectator Out Loud. Each week we choose some of our favourite articles from the magazine and ask their writers to read them aloud. I'm Patrick Gibbons and on this week's podcast. In Rome and as we await news of the Pope's health, Paul Wood reads his letter from the Vatican.

Assessing last week's conference by the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship,

Matthew Paris warns conservatives from embracing causes that could lose them as much support as they would gain.

Reviewing reign of ruin, Tokyo Hiroshima and The Surrender of Japan by Richard Overy, Ian Baruma argues that the atomic bombs were not only immoral but ineffective. Hermione Eyre examines the life and work

of surrealist artist Ethel Kolkawn, whose work is currently being exhibited at Tate's and Ives

and over the summer at Tate Britain. And finally, ahead of the start of Lent, Francis Young provides his notes on Shrove Tuesday.

Up first, Paul Wood.

Steady rain during the day stopped just before Monday evening's prayers for Pope Francis in St Peter Square.

A line of cardinals sat on a platform, an aging Pollitt Bureau in

black and scarlet. A couple of thousand of the faithful and the curious stood below.

Vatican gendarmes, wearing keppies and carrying sidearms, directed people to their places.

The Swiss Guard weren't on duty. Their gaudy,

striped uniforms would anyway have been too exuberant for the occasion, a 10th night in hospital for

the Pope, dangerously ill with double pneumonia at the age of 88. Floodlights illuminated the great baroque façade of the most famous building in Christendom.

Cobblestones glistened, fountains shimmered, there was a nasty chill in the air.

I stood at the back behind a group of elderly nuns with sky-blue habits, white veils and pursed lips. The nuns made the sign of the

cross and the crowd recited rosary prayers for the Pope's health. Even an atheist like me could be

moved by the strange and beautiful words. Hail Mary, full of grace. Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

The next day the Pope seemed to be getting a little better. The Holy See Press Office said he'd

...