Eight films and series about Pope Francis

John Paul II was a Pope who was a great fan of cinema, who even worked in a theater company in Nazi-occupied Poland and wrote three plays (later adapted into films). Francis was a Pope who loved film and television, and who understood how to spread his message through the screen. Whether in fiction or factual documentary, Jorge Mario Bergoglio starred in the following productions:

‘Francis: Pray for me’ (2015)

Director Beda Docampo Feijóo (born in Spain, but Argentinian, as his family emigrated when he was just a few months old) cast Darío Grandinetti as the Pope shortly after the start of his papacy (he was elected on March 13, 2013). In reality, through the eyes of a Spanish journalist, played by Silvia Abascal, who is writing a report on Francis, the audience is taken through Bergoglio’s entire life (and thus he is played by three actors of different ages). Francis: Father Jorge offers a somewhat stiff portrait. Available on DVD, but not on streaming platforms.

‘Call Me Francis’ (2015)

Another work that attempts to get closer to the Pope before he was appointed Bishop of Rome. An Italian production, although with a mostly Argentinian cast, it was directed by a capable Daniele Luchetti (My Brother is an Only Child). The film version, at just over 90 minutes long, was screened in a Vatican theater in 2015. The other version, the four-hour miniseries (Chiamatemi Francesco), covers 52 years of Francis’ life, from 1961 to his election in 2013, and was released in 2016. As a young man, he is played by Rodrigo de la Serna (who takes up most of the film); as an adult, by Sergio Hernández. The film is available on Tivify, and in Latin America on Netflix.

‘Pope Francis: A Man of His Word’ (2018)

Wim Wenders premiered his film at the Cannes Film Festival, where the German director joked that the protagonist wouldn’t attend the event “because it’s Sunday and he’s working.” The documentary is essentially a hagiography in which the viewer accompanies the Pope on his travels, with images interspersed with interviews Wenders conducted with the Pontiff to elicit his opinions. For the most controversial topics, the filmmaker uses a conversation with Bergoglio on the papal plane during one of his trips. Francis is a good protagonist: he knows how to speak to the camera, is convincing and elegant in his speeches, quotes Dostoevsky, jokes with his audiences, and cries out against the mistreatment of nature and the prevailing economy, which pushes many human beings to the margins of society. Available on Apple TV and Prime Video.

‘The Two Popes’ (2019)

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Theatrical trailer for 'The Two Popes'

In the history of the Catholic Church, there had never been cohabitation between a retired Pope and a sitting one, a fascinating process that Fernando Meirelles recounted in The Two Popes with Jonathan Pryce as Francis and Anthony Hopkins as Benedict XVI. The script is the work of Anthony McCarten, an expert in biographical film stories, and he succeeds when he launches into fictionalizing the conversations. The two actors and the script were nominated for an Oscar. Pryce was chosen for his undeniable resemblance; and the film was titled The Pope until Hopkins was cast and his agent imposed the change. Available on Netflix.

‘Francesco’ (2020)

Russian documentary filmmaker Evgeny Afineevsky (who has made two excellent films on the wars in Ukraine and Syria) explored the figure of Francis through his messages on controversial topics, using all kinds of archival materials. For those convinced of the cause. Available on Apple TV.

‘Stories of a Generation with Pope Francis’ (2021)

A four-part series filmed with people over 70 in front of the camera. It features a diverse cast of unknown faces, from a Nigerian artist, a South African photographer, and a Vietnamese shoemaker, to Martin Scorsese, Jane Goodall, and, of course, Pope Francis, who hovers over the entire film. Their reflections cover love, life’s struggles, work, and dreams both fulfilled and yet to be fulfilled. Available on Netflix.

‘The Letter: A Message for our Earth’ (2022)

Produced by YouTube Originals, and therefore accessible in its entirety on the platform, this documentary by Nick Brown (an expert in nature films) describes Francis’ encounters with various people directly affected by the climate crisis. The encyclical Laudato Si is set in the background. Available on YouTube.

‘In Viaggio, Traveling with Pope Francis’ (2022)

Star Italian documentary filmmaker Gianfranco Rosi accompanied the Pope on several of his trips to complete a portrait of a Pontiff who visited 53 countries in his first nine years in office. The film was nominated for a David di Donatello, the Academy of Italian Cinema’s annual awards. Available on Apple TV.

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