‘He Radiated Goodness’: Martin Scorsese on the Death of Pope Francis

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The filmmaker expresses gratitude for having had the opportunity to know the late Pope Francis, and throughout various years, he frequently visited the Vatican, forming a connection with him. Tragically, Pope Francis passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. His papacy commenced in 2013.

Pope Francis was truly exceptional in every sense, making a profound impact on the world, the church, and the papacy. I won’t delve into his significance, that’s best left for others. In a statement, Scorsese expressed, “He was an extraordinary human being. He openly admitted his flaws. He exuded wisdom. He exuded goodness. His dedication to the greater good was unwavering.

The Loss “Runs Deep” for the Director

The Academy Award-winning filmmaker went on to say, “He believed deeply that ignorance was a destructive affliction for humanity. Consequently, he remained committed to learning and sharing knowledge. He also advocated, lived by, and promoted forgiveness – unconditional and ongoing.

Martin Scorsese shared that the demise of Pope Francis has deeply affected him, as he was fortunate enough to have known him personally. He will undoubtedly miss his presence and warmth. The world’s loss is profound, but the light he left behind will never be snuffed out.

Scorsese is Developing a Film About Jesus

In the year 2023, Scorsese shared his plans to create another movie, similar to his previous work. Notably, he directed the film “The Last Temptation of Christ” in 1988, which featured Willem Dafoe portraying Jesus and Harvey Keitel as Judas. Additionally, he was responsible for the 2016 production, titled “Silence.

When the announcement was made, Scorsese expressed that he would be contributing to the Pope’s call to artists in a manner familiar to him: by conceptualizing and penning a script for a movie centered around Jesus. He further mentioned his plans to begin production on this project. The current development status of Scorsese’s upcoming Jesus-centric film remains uncertain at this time.

An Early Draft Was Published Last Year

2024 saw the revelation that Father Antonio Spadaro, who was consulting on Martin Scorsese’s then-unnamed movie, had shared a preliminary script and discussions with the director in his book titled “Dialoghi sulla fede (Dialogues on Faith).” This book, published in Italy, contained a chapter entitled “Screenplay for a Potential Movie about Jesus.” The excerpt, spanning 20 pages, was allowed by Scorsese to be published. It represents an early stage draft, not the one Scorsese will use for the film’s production. However, it provides some insights into Scorsese’s reasons and methods for making this movie.

When the notion of creating a movie began to solidify, I envisioned crafting a film portraying Christ in today’s world, dressed in contemporary attire, filmed in 16mm and black and white on the streets of New York.

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2025-04-21 23:50