Vatican Hosts Premiere of Scorsese's Pope Francis Documentary

The Vatican hosted the world premiere of the documentary "Aldeas, The Final Dream of Pope Francis" on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, marking the first anniversary of the pontiff's death at age 88. Directed by Martin Scorsese in collaboration with Johnny Shipley and Clare Tavernor, the film pays tribute to the late pope's vision through the community cinema initiative of Scholas Occurrentes, the global educational organization he founded.

Scholas Occurrentes, established by Francis in 2001 as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and elevated to a papal foundation in 2013, promotes social integration via sports, arts, and technology. The documentary centers on its Aldeas program, which empowers communities worldwide to produce short films that capture their histories, values, and identities. Footage spans Italy, Indonesia, Gambia, and Vatican City, including Scorsese's return to his grandfather's village in Sicily, where he guided local youth in creating their own film. It features Francis's final in-depth on-camera interview, recorded shortly before his passing in April 2025, along with behind-the-scenes discussions between the director and the pope.

"This film is a tribute to the Holy Father,"...