New film: 'Pope Francis - A Man of His Word'

Wim Wenders with Pope Francis

Source: Vatican News Service

The official trailer for a new film entitled: 'Pope Francis - A Man of His Word' was released today, on the fifth anniversary of the Holy Father's pontificate. Written and directed by the three-time Academy Award nominee Wim Wenders, the film is intended to be a personal journey with Pope Francis, rather than a biographical documentary about him.

Mgr Dario Eduardo Vigano, Prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for Communication, set the project rolling when he invited Mr Wenders to make a film with the Holy Father. The result was a rare co-production between Focus Features and the Vatican.

Pope Francis' ideas and message are central to the film which presents his work of reform and his answers to today's global questions regarding death, social justice, immigration, ecology, wealthy inequality, materialism and the role of the family.

The film's direct-to-camera visual and narrative concepts place the audience face-to-face with the Pope, creating a dialogue between him and the world. Pope Francis responds to the questions of farmers and workers, refugees, children and the elderly, prison inmates, and those who live in favelas and migrant camps. All of these voices and faces are a cross section of humanity that join in a conversation with Pope Francis.

This 'Symphony of questions' provides the backbone for the film, which also shows the Holy Father on his many journeys around the world. It features footage of him speaking at the United Nations, addressing the Congress of the United States and mourning with those gathered at Ground Zero and at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem. He speaks to prisoners in correctional facilities and to refugees in Mediterranean camps.

Throughout the film, Pope Francis share his his vision of the Church and his deep concern for the poor, his involvement in environment issues and social justice, and his call for peace in areas of conflict and between world religions. There is also a presence of Saint Francis in the film, connecting back to the Pope's namesake, through accounts of legendary moments in the Saint's own life and a reformer and ecologist.

In an area of deep distrust of politicians and people in power, 'Pope Francis - A Man of His Word' shows us a person who lives what he preaches and who has gained the trust of people of all faith traditions and cultures across the world.

The film goes on general release on 18 May. It is produced by Wim Wenders with Samantha Gandolfi Branca, Alessandro Lo Monaco (The World's Smallest Army) Andrea Gambetta, and David Rosier (The Salt of the Earth). The film is a production of Celestes Images, Vatican media. Solares Fondazione della Arti, PTS Art's Factory , Neue Road Movies, Fondazione Solares Suisse and Decia Films.

See a trailer here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJURLvuq2Fg