Wim Wender’s “Pope Francis – A Man of His Word” will open in domestic theaters on May 18, 2018, Focus Features announced Wednesday.
Written and directed by three-time Academy Award nominee Wender, the documentary is a rare co-production with the Vatican itself. It features behind-the-scenes footage and the Pope addresses his audience directly while answering questions about life, death, social justice and immigration, among other topics.
The film shows the pope during many journeys around the world, including footage of him speaking at the United Nations, addressing the Congress of the United States, and he also speaks to prisoners in correctional facilities as well as refugees in Mediterranean Land. In it, he also travels to the Holy Land, Africa, South America and Asia.
Universal Pictures International will distribute the documentary internationally.
“Pope Francis – A Man of His Word” is produced by Wenders with Samanta Gandolfi Branca, Alessandro Lo Monaco, Andrea Gambetta and David Rosier. The film is a production of Célestes Images, Centro Televisivo Vaticano, Solares Fondazione delle Arti, PTS Art’s Factory, Neue Road Movies, Fondazione Solares Suisse, and Decia Films.
The announcement today coincided with Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent for Christians around the world.