Martin Scorsese had a private audience with Pope Francis before filming his new screenplay about Jesus, which is scheduled to begin filming later this year.
The renowned director, 81, met with the pope on Wednesday after Scorsese attended his weekly “general audience,” which gives the public a chance to see and pray with the pope.
The 81-year-old, who has been a Catholic all his life although he described himself as “not a regular churchgoer,” said in December 2023: “After many years of thinking about other things and snooping here and there, I feel most comfortable.” as a Catholic. I believe in the principles of Catholicism.'
His upcoming film will be an adaptation of the 1966 book “A Life of Jesus” by Shūsaku Endō and will be significantly shorter than his other films with a running time of around 80 minutes.
It will be set in the present to make it “timeless” and will examine the core teachings of “Jesus” in a way that explores the principles but does not proselytize.”
“I'm trying to find a new way to make it more accessible and remove the negative baggage of what is associated with organized religion,” he said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
The renowned director, 81, met with the Pope in a private meeting on Wednesday. Although it's not yet clear what the two have been talking about, Scorsese has a new film about Jesus that will begin filming this year
Scorsese's new film, which currently has no name, will be an adaptation of the 1966 book “A Life of Jesus” by Shūsaku Endō
Director Martin Scorsese (center) with his daughter Francesca (left) and actress Lily Gladstone at Pope Francis' weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI Hall. at the Vatican on January 31, 2024
Mr. Scorsese spoke about his new project for the first time last May when he attended “The Global Aesthetics of the Catholic Imagination” event at the Vatican, which was attended by around 40 filmmakers, writers and poets who consider Catholicism to be an integral part of their lives looked at work.
At the event, Scorsese said: “I responded to the Pope's appeal to artists in the only way I know how: by conceiving and writing a script for a film about Jesus.”
Shūsaku Endō was also the author of Silence, a book adapted into a film by Scorsese in 2016, telling the story of two Portuguese Jesuit missionaries, played by Adam Driver and Andrew Garfield, who face various forms of persecution as they journey through the Japan in the 17th century to proselytize the locals and track down their mentor, played by Liam Neeson.
The film was shown in a special screening at the Vatican because Pope Francis is the first Jesuit pope.
January 31, 2024: Pope Francis receives Martin Scorsese at the Vatican in Rome in a private capacity
May 27, 2023: Pope Francis met with Scorsese during a conference hosted by La Civilta Cattolica and Georgetown University at the Vatican
October 23, 2018: Martin Scorsese kisses Pope Francis' hand as they attend the launch of the new book “Sharing The Wisdom of Time,” about the Pope's discussion with young people, in Rome, Italy
November 30, 2016: Pope Francis Scorsese during a private audience in the Vatican
The filmmaker was also accompanied by the Pope at the release of the book “Sharing The Wisdom Of Time” in 2018, where he bowed to the hand of the head of the Catholic Church.
At the same time, Scorsese spoke to La Civiltà Cattolica about the film and his own religious beliefs.
“Well, I'm interested in how people perceive God, or rather, how they perceive the world of the intangible,” he explained.
“After many years of thinking about other things and experimenting here and there, I feel most comfortable as a Catholic.” I believe in the teachings of Catholicism. I am not a doctor of the church. I am not a theologian who can represent the Trinity. I'm certainly not interested in the politics of the institution.
“But the idea of the resurrection, the idea of the incarnation, the powerful message of compassion and love – that is the key.”
Scorsese grew up Catholic and attended a Catholic school as a child.
However, his religious films were not without controversy, with Scorsese adapting the book “The Last Temptation of Christ” in 1988.
This shows Jesus with both sexual desire and the possibility of contemplating the possibility of violating his true calling; die for our sins.
The production was met with strong opposition worldwide, resulting in it being canceled by Paramount. After the film was picked up again by Universal, evangelist and producer Bill Bright offered to purchase the film's negative from Universal to burn.
Private audiences with the Pope are typically reserved exclusively for heads of state, heads of government, new Vatican ambassadors to the Holy See or groups of bishops on an ad limina visit.
However, the Pope is seen by believers at a general audience every Wednesday morning.
However, private meetings with celebrities are not uncommon. In November he met with Brendan Rodger and his Celtic players after their 2-0 defeat at Lazio.
The Vatican has been asked for comment.