Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
Rodrigo de la Serna stars in a scene from the movie "Call Me Francesco," the first movie based on the life of Pope Francis, shown in the Vatican audience hall Dec. 1. (CNS photo/Angelo Di Pietro, TaodueFilm, distributed by Medusa)

The usual fanfare that comes with the world premiere of a movie is pretty standard: the lights and cameras, the celebrities walking down the red carpet and screaming fans trying to catch a glimpse of their favorite actors. 

At the Vatican, however, a movie premiere is not your typical star-studded event.

The world premiere of "Call Me Francesco," the first movie based on the life of Pope Francis, took place in the Vatican audience hall Dec. 1 and those considered celebrities in the eyes of the pope were in attendance.

"To this exceptional premiere, the Holy Father wished to invite the poor, the homeless, refugees and the people most in need, together with the volunteers, religious and lay people, who work daily in charity," a statement from the papal almoner's office said. 

Parishes and charitable associations in Rome were given 7,000 tickets for the poor to attend the premiere at the Vatican. The night also included a concert featuring the Pontifical Swiss Guard's musical band. The papal almoner's office said that many of the Swiss Guards offered to play during their free time as a gift to the homeless.

The poor were also offered a brown-bag dinner "donated especially for the occasion by several benefactors."

Directed by Italian filmmaker Daniele Luchetti, "Call Me Francesco" details the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, from his humble beginnings in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to his election to the papacy in 2013. 

At the premiere, Luchetti expressed his hope that the movie would be "an emotional moment" in following "the footsteps of a man we admire." While all the details of the pope's life are not known, the Italian director said he was optimistic that the film would explain "how he came to be and for what reasons."

For Argentine actor Rodrigo de la Serna, portraying the young Jorge Mario Bergoglio on the silver screen was a dream come true. "It's crazy, I never imagined in my life to be here at the Vatican, much less portraying Jorge Mario Bergoglio. It's a dream!" de la Serna told Catholic News Service. Seeing how well the movie was received by the 7,000 guests, he said, was "something that I will never forget."

David, one of the thousands of homeless people attending the premiere said that it was "truly emotional" to the see the path followed by Pope Francis. "His way of being close to the poor, close to people in need and the endless struggle against evil" was particularly moving, he told CNS. 

Of the many groups at the premiere, one stood out in the crowd, holding a large colorful banner with the words, "Thank you, Pope Francis!" The banner belonged to a group of refugees from Eritrea who were invited to attend. 

A young refugee who wished to remain anonymous told CNS that he was happy to see the film and that the pope's life showed that prayer can be a powerful solution, even in the most difficult circumstances. 

"Some of us will continue to other countries, others will stay here in Italy. We are refugees," he said. Pope Francis' story, he continued, gave him hope that "everything will be all right for us."

Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.

The latest from america

“One of the things I find most appealing about the award-winning writer and poet Mary Karr is her forthright, almost brutal, honesty.”
James Martin, S.J.July 01, 2025
Pope Leo XIV urged new archbishops to help him foster unity in a church rich in diversity. Eight of those new archbishops are from the United States, and they spoke to Catholic News Service about how they can help promote fraternity in today’s polarized world.
This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley chat with Christopher White about his new book, ‘Pope Leo XVI: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy.’
JesuiticalJune 30, 2025
Kerry Weber, incoming president of the Catholic Media Association, and executive editor of America Magazine, speaks June 26, 2025, during the Catholic Media Conference in Phoenix. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)
Kerry Weber is an executive editor for America. On May 20, 2025, the Catholic Media Association announced that she was elected president,
Grace LenahanJune 30, 2025