German filmmaker Wim Wenders with Pope Francis during the production of his documentary film Pope Francis – A Man of His Word. (CNS photo/Vatican Media, handout)
The Catholic Church has been blessed with some remarkable popes, especially in the last 150 years. However, none have more fully endeared themselves to the faithful than the current pope, Francis.
In a sense, he seems to be the collective outcome of some of the greatest achievements of his predecessors. His stance on social justice issues is an echo of the reign of Leo XIII, his love of the Eucharist that of Pius X, his attempts to promote world peace that of Benedict XV, his emphasis on Scripture and the doctrine of the Mystical Body that of Pius XII, his devotion to evangelizing through Scripture that of Paul VI, his power to connect with people that of John XXIII, his impact on the world that of John Paul II, and his outreach to Islam that of Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Francis has been concerned with all of this and his achievements in these areas is the subject of a superb new documentary: Pope Francis, A Man of His Word.
Directed by the great German director Wim Wenders, the film is clearly born of Wenders’ admiration for Pope Francis. In a remarkable undertaking, Wenders interviewed the Holy Father in four two-hour sessions and clearly found his subject everything a filmmaker would want.
It is also true that audiences should recognize how brilliantly Wenders has taken advantage of this opportunity to allow them to know the Pope better. Pope Francis engaged in a free-ranging expression of his views on a multitude of topics, speaking, as one would expect, with humility, warmth, humour, and with an unflinching loyalty to his beliefs.
Thus, he addressed a number of issues, including poverty, family, the media, materialism, migrants and refugees, the Church’s relationship with Jews and Muslims, talking always directly to the camera, making it seem that he is talking to the individual viewer. The director has clearly recognized the extraordinary nature of his subject and has had the good sense to allow him to be fully himself.
However, this film is not a sustained “talking head” production. Wenders has cleverly and pointedly included film footage of many of the Pope’s travels, from South America to Palestine, from a prison in Rome to a devastated Philippines. These not only lend variety to the film, but also provide an amplification of all that is spoken.
And to remind the audience of the foundational role that St. Francis plays in the life of Pope Francis, there is ample refence to the life of the saint. It is true that Wenders has chosen to film some key moments in the life of St. Francis in a kind of simulated silent movie form which some may find too precious – or perhaps too derivative of Rossellini’s 1950s effectively (and deceptively) simple Flowers of St. Francis. However, it does have the merit of reminding viewers that there is a gap of 800 years separating us from the time of St. Francis, while also showing that he has enormous relevance to this century – a relevance which is the inspiration of Pope Francis himself.
It is a further merit of the film that though it addresses such a wide range of topics, it is made in such a way as to form a perfect smooth-running continuum – a testimony not only to the filmmaker’s skill, but the complete consonance and total integrity of the Pope. Everything in the man is in harmony with and a reflection of his total commitment to the faith. One cannot view the film without being impressed by his example, inspired by his simple dedication to the Faith, and moved by the love he evinces – love of God and love of people.
In fact, the one disappointment of the film is that it has a running time of only an hour and a half. Pope Francis has struck a chord of affection with people. From the moment that he appeared, on the day of his election, on the balcony at St. Peter’s and greeted the crowd below with the simple “Buona sera,” they have come to see him as a true shepherd, a dedicated follower of Jesus, and above all as a man of love.
This film offers a wonderful opportunity to get to know him better and to see the great gift he is to the Church. Of course, one would wish to have spent much longer than the film allows in the company of such an inspiring man. One regrets that over six hours of interview did not make it to the screen, and one is left wondering what other memorable moments might have been discarded.
However. what we have is to be prized, cherished and reflected upon. To miss seeing Pope Francis, A Man of His Word is, regardless of one’s faith, to miss one of the most rewarding cinematic experiences that one is likely to have.