Documentary by Knights of Columbus addresses, “Who is Pope Francis?”

The Knights of Columbus have produced a documentary, “Francis: The Pope From the New World,” that will air on October 20th, on FOX Business Network, at 5:00 pm (Eastern Time). The documentary “traces the remarkable rise of Jorge Mario Bergoglio who has become the first pope from the Americas, the first pope who is a Jesuit, and the first to take the name Francis. The hour-long program features interviews from around the world, with close friends, fellow priests, co-workers, his biographer, and the poor of Buenos Aires. Most of the interviews and much of the film were shot on location in Argentina.”

“This documentary arrives as the world realizes that a very special man has assumed the leadership of the Catholic Church, and this begins — but does not end — with his gestures of humility and care for everyone,” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, one of the documentary’s executive producers. “Still, what remain largely unknown to the public are many details of Pope Francis’ life, the work he has done and the ways in which he has defended the voiceless and Catholic principles. This documentary delves into those stories.”
 
The documentary begins with the electrifying moment when the new pope stands before the crowd in St. Peter’s Square on March 13, the day of his election. It then takes viewers through both the ordinary and climactic events of his life, from family dynamics, to his call to the priesthood, to his support for the San Lorenzo soccer team, to his care for those in the slums of Buenos Aires.
 
It traces his work for those threatened in Argentina’s Dirty War that coincided with Fr. Bergoglio’s time as Jesuit provincial, his advocacy for those affected by economic and political turmoil, and the opposition he sometimes encountered from Argentina’s political elites.

CNA/EWTN reports:

Prof. Guzman Carriquiry Lecour, secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, described “Francis: The Pope from the New World” as an “excellent introduction to the life and thought of our Holy Father.”

“Through his own words, and through the stories of those who knew him well and worked closely with him, this documentary takes you on an eye-opening journey through many of the key events in the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio,” Carriquiry said.

“It makes clear why this man was so well qualified and prepared to become Pope,” he continued. “Anyone who wants a better understanding of Pope Francis would do well to start with this film.”

The documentary has also drawn the praise of Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, who said that it will help viewers see the Holy Father “more clearly.”

“The whole world is talking about Pope Francis,” Archbishop Gomez remarked. “All this interest is a sign that millions in our secularized societies are still seeking God – and they’re still looking to the Catholic Church to show them the way.”

The film, he said, “presents a Pope who has a beautiful vision for human happiness and a Pope who is calling the Church to deeper love for Jesus and a new desire to bring our neighbors to God.”

Here is the trailer for the documentary: