One year after the death of Pope Francisthis Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the Vatican premiered documentary Villages, The Final Dream of Pope Francis (Villages, the final dream of Pope Francis)produced by American director Martin Scorsese.
According to the synopsis, it is “a powerful convergence of Pope Francis and Martin Scorsese’s visions on art, spirituality and humanity”.
The material highlights the work of the educational network Scholas Ocurrentes and the Aldeas project, an initiative of Pope Francis that organizes workshops in different countries and encourages young people from local communities to create short films that celebrate their identities, stories and values, and discuss their current realities.
Besides, production includes last recorded in-depth interview of the pontiff before his death: an intimate dialogue in which he reflects on the role of art and the future of humanity, as well as conversations between him and Scorsese recorded behind the scenes.
“Rooted in the Culture of Encounter, The film brings together diverse communities from around the world to tell their own stories, celebrate their identities, and preserve their cultural heritage through film.”, describes Aldeas Films.
The documentary also records audiovisual workshops, as well as fragments filmed by the participants themselves in different regions of Italy, Indonesia, Gambia and Vatican Cityand shows that cinema is a bridge towards a more integrated humanity.
Scorsese has addressed the topic of faith and Catholicism in movies like Silence (2016) and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988). In 2007 he was awarded the Oscar for best director for The Departed and has received three Golden Globes in the same category.
“This film is a tribute to the holy father. Honor his memory by embodying the spirit of his ministry and his dream of creating an increasingly humane culture. “At this moment in history, I think that is not just a dream, but a necessity,” Scorsese told the outlet. deadline.
The project also featured the participation of artists such as actor Babou Ceesay, actress Happy Salma and Oscar-winning Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore.
“It is an extraordinarily poetic and deeply transformative project, because it reaches the very root of human life: our sociability, our conflicts and the very essence of life’s journey.”, Pope Francis said at the start of production, the statement cited.
For now, The commercial release date of the film has not yet been announced.but it is expected to be in the coming months.