Martin Scorsese announces documentary with late Pope Francis

Martin Scorsese has made a documentary with the late Pope Francis that will feature conversations between the pontiff and the iconic filmmaker, including what the filmmakers say was the Pope’s last in-depth interview, The Guardian reports.

Aldeas – A New Story will detail the work of Scholas Occurrentes, a non-profit international organization founded by Pope Francis in 2013 to promote what he called a “Culture of Encounter” with young people.

Aldeas Scholas Film and Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions said the documentary will be “a testament to the enduring belief that creativity is not only a means of expression, but also a path to hope and transformation.”

Before his death, Pope Francis called Aldeas “an extremely poetic and very constructive project because it touches on the roots of human life, human sociability, human conflicts… the essence of the journey of life.”

“Now more than ever, we need to talk to each other, to listen to each other. One of the best ways to do this is to share stories about who we are, reflected in our personal lives and experiences. This helps us understand and appreciate how each of us sees the world. It was important to Pope Francis that people around the world exchange ideas with respect, while preserving their cultural identity, and cinema is the best medium for this,” Scorsese said.

He met Pope Francis many times, and their conversations sometimes inspired the renowned filmmaker.

When Francis died on April 21, Scorsese remembered him as “a wonderful man in every way.”

“He recognized his own shortcomings,” he said. “He radiated wisdom. He radiated kindness. He had an unshakable commitment to goodness. He knew in his heart that ignorance was a terrible plague on humanity. So he never stopped learning. And he never stopped educating. And he embraced, preached, and practiced forgiveness. Universal and permanent forgiveness."