Reflecting on the passing of Pope Francis, I am reminded of this movie on Netflix. Yes, it is fictionalized; it takes true events, things we know, and adds in things we suspect as well as some story-creating elements.
Instead of literal transcriptions, the film’s conversations between Benedict XVI and Francis are based on their stated positions from speeches and writings. They are a kind of conjecture on the part of the filmmakers, a plausible debate to fill a historical gap. “What you always do is you speculate,” [film director] McCarten told the Wrap. “Hopefully that speculation is based in facts and the truth, and hopefully it’s inspired.” [1]
As a movie, it is well-done, thought-provoking, and often moving. It is one of those stories that can leave you thinking about it for a long time to come. In the end, it captures the heart of the story, and offers some ideas and lessons to consider. Also, the acting and cinemaphotography are excellent.
Trailer from Netflix:
Simplicity and Service
When he was officially selected as Pope, he is quoted by many to have said, “I hope God forgives you.” He and the cardinals knew he would be a force of change for the Catholic Church, focusing on teachings of peace, humility, serving the poor, environmental stewardship, and being welcoming of all per the teachings of Jesus. Even many atheists, while some wished he would have gone even farther with certain topics, found this Pope to be an inspiration of hope for the future. He signaled this change by his actions on Day 1: “Pope Francis showed a preference for a simpler lifestyle and simpler cars. As a cardinal, he often used public transport. On the night of his election, he rode with the other cardinals in a minibus back to their hotel instead of using a papal limousine” (Popemobile).
To learn more about Pope Francis, the following are interesting reads:
- Article: Pope Francis explains why he chose St. Francis of Assisi’s name, by Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service.
- Article: Francis of Assisi (Wikipedia) – the inspiration and parallels can be seen between the stories of this Catholic Saint and Pope Francis.
- [1] A Time article about the movie, the Two Popes, by Alejandro de la Garza, December 2019