Pope Francis documentary becomes Amazon bestseller

Washington D.C., Dec 19, 2013 / 15:50 pm

A recent documentary on Pope Francis, "Francis: The Pope From The New World," has become a bestseller on Amazon.com and at one point ranked number four in the documentary category.

"This documentary arrives as the world realizes that a very special man has assumed the leadership of the Catholic Church, and this begins - but does not end - with his gestures of humility and care for everyone," Carl Anderson, an executive producer of the documentary, said Dec. 17.

Anderson said many of the details of the Pope's life "remain largely unknown to the public," including "the ways in which he has defended the voiceless and Catholic principles."

"This documentary delves into those stories," he said.

Anderson is Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal charitable organization with over 1.8 million members worldwide. The Knights said the documentary will help people learn more about the man who was recently named Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2013.

The hour-long documentary begins with the Pope's election on March 13, 2013 and revisits his background in Argentina, where he served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and as a Jesuit provincial.

Pope Francis, formerly Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, is the first Pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit elected to the papacy. He has long been an advocate for those struggling economically, including those who lived in the slums of Buenos Aires. He also helped protect those endangered in Argentina's Dirty War.

The documentary includes interviews with the Pope's close friends, his fellow priests, his co-workers, his biographer, and the poor of Buenos Aires. It covers his personal life, including his family relations and his support for the San Lorenzo soccer team.

It also addresses how his work sometimes drew opposition from Argentina's political elites.

The online retailer Amazon.com has had to reorder DVDs of the movie several times because it ran out of stock. It is presently selling the English-language DVD for $14.96. The DVD is also available in Spanish.

The documentary has been broadcast on U.S. cable television, and Mexican broadcasts are planned.

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles has praised the film.

"The whole world is talking about Pope Francis," he said, adding that such interest is "a sign that millions in our secularized societies are still seeking God – and they're still looking to the Catholic Church to show them the way."

The documentary, he said, "presents a Pope who has a beautiful vision for human happiness and a Pope who is calling the Church to deeper love for Jesus and a new desire to bring our neighbors to God."

The documentary's website, which includes a movie trailer, is at www.PopeFrancisDocumentary.com.