September 19, 2015, 4:10p.m.
– THE LIFE of the Holy
Father goes to the big screen for the first time with “Papa Francisco: the Pope
Francis Story,” a film that revisits the Supreme Pontiff’s journey from Buenos
Aires to Rome.
The story begins in
Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the young Bergoglio (Dario Grandinetti)
discovers his religious calling. It shifts to the perspective of a young
journalist named Ana (played by Silva Abascal). Ana becomes a witness to
Bergoglio’s labors after meeting him in the papal conclave of 2005 that elected
Pope Benedict XVI.
“Papa Francisco”
examines Bergoglio’s stance against graft and corruption as well as abortion
and drugs. Bergoglio insists on being addressed simply as “Father Jorge,”
despite holding the highest position in the Catholic Church.
The film is an
adaptation of Elisabetta Piqué’s book “Pope Francis: Life and Revolution,”
which details the Pope’s journey through Piqué’s eyes. Piqué, a close friend of
the Pope’s, is the Vatican correspondent for La Nacion, Argentina’s
main newspaper.
Fr. Mario
Sobrejuanite, vice chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines’ (CBCP) Film Review and Assessment Board, said the movie would be a
source of enlightenment for politicians running in the 2016 elections.
“Habang tayo’y papasok
sa eleksyon, sana makita na ang isang lider ay isang alagad. Ipagdasal natin na
may aral na makuha ang mga naghahangad maging pinuno, sa Simbahan man, o sa
politika,” Fr. Sobrejuanite said to the Varsitarian.
Fr. Anton Pascual,
president of Radio Veritas Philippines, said the film would serve as a
remembrance that the Pope is a loving father to all. “[M]agugunita muli natin
ang pagdalaw ng Santo Papa, isang pari ng Diyos na talagang nagmamalasakit at
nagbabahagi ng pag-ibig ng Panginoon,” Pascual said.
“Papa Francisco: the
Pope Francis Story” is directed by Beda Docampo Feijoo. The film will be
released on Sept. 30 in theaters nationwide, by Pioneer Films in partnership
with Radio Veritas. Lea Mat P. Vicencio
