It's Time to Heed Pope Francis' Words: Film Can 'Reawaken Wonder'

It's actually pretty funny that on the weekend Pope Francis dies, the number one movie at the box office was Ryan Coogler's Sinners. What's maybe funniest is that I think it's a movie that actually thrives in what the late Pope believed about movies, that they're a direct expression of the artist and that they can stir something important inside all of us. Let me explain... In 2023, the Pope addressed members of Fondazione Ente dello Spettacolo, an Italian film foundation.His words should echo through all filmmakers' hearts. Pope Francis said, “Dear friends, the world troubled by war and so many evils needs signs, works that inspire wonder and that reveal the wondrousness of God who never ceases to love his creatures and to be amazed by their beauty,” and the pontiff continued, “In an increasingly artificial world, where man has surrounded himself with the works of his own hands, the great risk is to lose a sense of wonder. I share this reflection with you, entrusting you with the task to reawaken wonder.”Look, I went to 12 years of Catholic School, so the Pope telling me to work harder on movies that make people feel a wonder for the world is a pretty stirring call to action, even if I'm not practicing today. The act of reawakening wonder should be at the heart of every story we tell. As another great Pope of cinema, Roger Ebert, once said, cinema is an empathy machine. It has the unique power of an art form to connect with human beings and tell stories that get us to think about other people. To think about the trials and tribulations of who we see on screen. To actually change the world and change the hearts of people. That does not mean only making message movies, but it means putting your full heart and soul into the stuff that makes it to the screen. Really put yourself out there and get involved in your art. In that same address I mentioned earlier, the Pope finished his chat with this direct blessing for filmmakers, “Thank you for your work,” he said. “It’s evangelical work. Poetic work too, because cinema is poetry; giving life is poetic. I thank you for your journey: keep going, keep going, in the footsteps of the greats. You Italians have a glorious history of this. Keep going.”Now, I think this applies to non-Italians, too. And, to me, the best way, as a filmmaker, to celebrate this late Pope's legacy is to keep making films. Dare to dream. Pray for inspiration. And just keep creating. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Apr 21, 2025 - 20:44

It's Time to Heed Pope Francis' Words: Film Can 'Reawaken Wonder'

It's actually pretty funny that on the weekend Pope Francis dies, the number one movie at the box office was Ryan Coogler's Sinners.

What's maybe funniest is that I think it's a movie that actually thrives in what the late Pope believed about movies, that they're a direct expression of the artist and that they can stir something important inside all of us.

Let me explain...

In 2023, the Pope addressed members of Fondazione Ente dello Spettacolo, an Italian film foundation.

His words should echo through all filmmakers' hearts.

Pope Francis said, “Dear friends, the world troubled by war and so many evils needs signs, works that inspire wonder and that reveal the wondrousness of God who never ceases to love his creatures and to be amazed by their beauty,” and the pontiff continued, “In an increasingly artificial world, where man has surrounded himself with the works of his own hands, the great risk is to lose a sense of wonder. I share this reflection with you, entrusting you with the task to reawaken wonder.”

Look, I went to 12 years of Catholic School, so the Pope telling me to work harder on movies that make people feel a wonder for the world is a pretty stirring call to action, even if I'm not practicing today.

The act of reawakening wonder should be at the heart of every story we tell. As another great Pope of cinema, Roger Ebert, once said, cinema is an empathy machine.

It has the unique power of an art form to connect with human beings and tell stories that get us to think about other people. To think about the trials and tribulations of who we see on screen. To actually change the world and change the hearts of people.

That does not mean only making message movies, but it means putting your full heart and soul into the stuff that makes it to the screen. Really put yourself out there and get involved in your art.

In that same address I mentioned earlier, the Pope finished his chat with this direct blessing for filmmakers, “Thank you for your work,” he said. “It’s evangelical work. Poetic work too, because cinema is poetry; giving life is poetic. I thank you for your journey: keep going, keep going, in the footsteps of the greats. You Italians have a glorious history of this. Keep going.”

Now, I think this applies to non-Italians, too. And, to me, the best way, as a filmmaker, to celebrate this late Pope's legacy is to keep making films.

Dare to dream. Pray for inspiration. And just keep creating.

Let me know what you think in the comments.