Martin Scorsese is diving into a powerful new project that holds deep cultural and emotional significance, producing a documentary about Pope Francis featuring the pontiff’s final on-camera interview.
This documentary, titled Aldeas, A New Story, will be a tribute to the late pope, who passed away on Easter Monday (April 21, 2025), at the age of 88 after a stroke. Scorsese, the iconic filmmaker behind masterpieces like Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and The Irishman, has teamed up with the late pope’s Scholas Occurrentes educational initiative to produce the film, marking a poignant chapter in both cinematic history and religious leadership.
’Aldeas, A New Story’ is a feature-length documentary that blends powerful storytelling, education, and community-building. The project showcases the late pope’s belief that creativity is sacred. It includes Francis’ final extensive interview, shot exclusively for the film. His insights, recorded just months before his passing, reflect his deep thoughts on human life, creativity, and the world’s cultural exchanges. In a statement before his death, Pope Francis described Aldeas as “an extremely poetic and very constructive project” that dives into the roots of human life, sociability, and conflict. He viewed the initiative as a way to bring people together by embracing the essence of life’s journey, and Scorsese shares this vision in his documentary work.
Pope Francis was a staunch believer in cross-cultural communication, and he understood that sharing stories was one of the most powerful ways to connect across the globe. Scorsese echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of storytelling as a means to listen and understand one another. The documentary, therefore, isn’t just a historical record; it’s a call for global conversation, one where people can maintain their cultural identities while also respecting and learning from others. “One of the best ways to accomplish this is by sharing the stories of who we are,” Scorsese said, highlighting how vital it is for us to engage with diverse perspectives.
Aldeas—A New Story also includes short narrative films from countries like Gambia, Italy, and Indonesia, focusing on the people and cultures represented in these regions. These short films, combined with behind-the-scenes footage and unseen conversations between Pope Francis and Scorsese, will help create a rich tapestry of perspectives that illustrate the pope’s mission to unite the world through creativity and shared human experience.
The film and the Scholas Occurrentes initiative have been funded independently through global sponsors and donors, ensuring that all proceeds are reinvested into the growth of the Aldeas project, which seeks to continue the pope’s work in promoting creativity and education across the world. This collaboration between cinema, culture, and faith is set to leave a lasting impact, allowing Pope Francis’ final messages and vision to resonate for generations.
