Martin Scorsese’s Film Captures Pope Francis’ Vision \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Martin Scorsese is producing a documentary with Pope Francis, highlighting the late pontiff’s global educational vision. The film focuses on Scholas Occurrentes and youth creativity through filmmaking. It includes Pope Francis’ final major on-camera interview before his death.
Quick Looks
- Title: Aldeas — A New Story
- Focus: Global youth filmmaking through Scholas Occurrentes
- Includes: Pope Francis’ final long-form on-camera film interview
- Produced by: Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions and Aldeas Scholas Film
- Filming Locations: Indonesia, Italy, The Gambia
- Pope’s Quote: Aldeas “goes to the roots of human life”
- Scorsese’s Vision: Cinema as cross-cultural dialogue and transformation
- Status: No release date announced
Deep Look
The world of cinema and spirituality are converging in a remarkable way through “Aldeas — A New Story,” a documentary currently in production that unites the creative vision of acclaimed director Martin Scorsese with the late Pope Francis. The project stands not only as a tribute to the Pope’s final on-camera reflections but also as a global call to action for creative dialogue, youth empowerment, and intercultural understanding.
Announced just days after Pope Francis’s death on April 21, Aldeas — A New Story is being produced by Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions in collaboration with Aldeas Scholas Film, the audiovisual arm of Scholas Occurrentes—a global, youth-centered educational initiative that Francis founded in 2013 during his papacy.
At its heart, the documentary is about storytelling—particularly the stories of young people across different cultures who are given a platform to explore identity, community, and hope through film. The documentary will showcase the work of youth in Indonesia, Italy, and The Gambia as they develop and produce their own short films under the Aldeas initiative, a sub-program within Scholas that uses cinema as a tool for social connection and personal expression.
While the film is structured around these youth narratives, its soul lies in its rare and powerful conversations with Pope Francis—described by the producers as his final major on-camera interview for a film project. These dialogues between Francis and Scorsese explore not just cinema, but the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of human life, creativity, and connection. Francis, known for his poetic and humble view of the world, described Aldeas as “extremely poetic and very constructive,” noting that it reflects “the roots of what human life is… the essence of a life’s journey.”
The title “Aldeas — A New Story” (Aldeas meaning “villages” in Spanish) is symbolic of the broader mission: building global “villages” of understanding through film, where young voices can be heard, shared, and celebrated across borders. Scholas Occurrentes, active in over 190 countries, has used sports, arts, and technology as bridges between communities and cultures. Aldeas is its cinematic expression—a way to amplify youth perspectives on poverty, conflict, family, migration, and dreams.
Scorsese’s involvement brings significant weight to the project. The 82-year-old director has long blended faith and film in works like The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) and Silence (2016), both of which explore themes of belief, sacrifice, and doubt. His personal conversations with Pope Francis over the past decade have influenced both his creative thinking and future plans, including a still-unrealized adaptation of Shūsaku Endō’s “A Life of Jesus.”
Following a 2023 meeting with Francis, Scorsese hinted at producing a new film centered on the life and teachings of Jesus—though that project has yet to move into production. In the meantime, Scorsese has stayed active in religious-themed media, producing an eight-part series for Fox Nation titled Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints, a dramatized look at notable figures in Catholic history.
In his statement about the upcoming documentary, Scorsese reflected on Pope Francis’s global vision:
“Now, more than ever, we need to talk to each other, listen to one another cross-culturally… One of the best ways to accomplish this is by sharing the stories of who we are, reflected from our personal lives and experiences.”
Scorsese emphasizes that film has a unique power to transcend language and cultural barriers. In an increasingly divided and digitalized world, Aldeas — A New Story offers a counter-narrative—one rooted in listening, imagination, and shared humanity. It also serves as a capstone to Francis’s papacy, memorializing his belief in youth-led change, and reminding viewers that leadership, compassion, and dialogue must start from the ground up.
The timing of the film’s development makes it particularly poignant. As the Vatican prepares for a new papal conclave on May 7 to elect Francis’s successor, Aldeas might be remembered as the Pope’s final creative and ideological legacy to the world. The documentary doesn’t merely commemorate his teachings—it continues them by inviting new generations to join the story.
No official release date has been set, but anticipation for the film is growing, not just among religious audiences, but also educators, filmmakers, cultural critics, and human rights advocates. It promises to be a visual and emotional journey that blends the narrative mastery of Scorsese with the visionary humanism of Pope Francis.
Through its lens, Aldeas — A New Story aims to illustrate that cinema is not just entertainment—it is an act of communion. It is a place where voices long unheard can speak, where borders can dissolve, and where stories, however small or local, can echo on a global stage.
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