Pope watches TV movie, calls predecessor 'untiring prophet of hope'

Published: 2006-03-31

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II was "an untiring prophet of hope and peace," Pope Benedict XVI said after watching a made-for-television movie about his predecessor's pontificate. Pope Benedict joined an estimated 8,000 people March 30 in the Vatican's audience hall for the premiere of the Italian production, "Karol: A Pope Who Remained a Man." The movie, produced by Taodue and Mediaset, is the sequel to "Karol: A Man Who Became Pope," which aired in Italy shortly after Pope John Paul's April 2, 2005, death and in August on the Hallmark Channel in the United States. The first movie portrayed the life of Karol Wojtyla up until his 1978 election as Pope John Paul. The second film covered the years of his papacy, ending with news footage of his funeral. Both films were based on the Vatican-approved book, "Stories of Karol: The Unknown Life of John Paul II," written by Gian Franco Svidercoschi.

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