Philadelphia catches Pope fever, shows his favorite movies
By Dan Selcke
A theater in Philadelphia will celebrate Pope Francis’ historic visit to the U.S. by screening three of his favorite movies.
Pope Francis is definitely one of the most progressive popes in recent memory. He advocates for the poor and speaks out against the “cult of money.” He often eschews the trappings of his office, sneaking out of the Vatican at night to help the poor. And he’s probably also the only pope in history to ride a motorcycle, although we could be wrong about that—it’s hard to picture Pope John-Paul II on one.
Pope Francis is also fond of movies, something he’s talked about at length in various interviews over the years. To celebrate his visit to the U.S., the Prince Theater in Philadelphia is putting on a miniature film festival featuring movies the Pope has said he enjoys. If you’re in the area, go check it out, and if you’re not, feel free to recreate it in your home while pretending you’re the Pope, big holy hat optional. Here are a few of the selections.
Rome, Open City
This 1945 film by Roberto Rossellini depicts Rome as it was in 1944: occupied by the Nazis, and features a Catholic priest as the main character. The Pope discussed his fondness for the movie during an interview with La Repubblica in 2013. “I think [Pope Francis] responded to the film’s message, especially since his father fled Italy because of fascism,” said Allison Koehler, programs director at the Philadelphia Film Society. “The movie is an act of resistance, made against all odds.”
La Strada
Director Federico Fellini’s 1954 movie about a circus strongman (Anthony Quinn) who falls for a naïve young woman (Giulietta Masina). This is another of the pope’s favorites. It was the first movie to win the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.
Babette’s Feast
The Pope has gone on record as saying that this 1987 drama by Gabriel Axel is his favorite movie. Babette’s Feast is about a Parisian woman who moves to a town in Denmark to be a housekeeper and cook, where she challenges the town’s religious prejudices. Here’s how Koehler puts it: “The film challenges religious stereotypes in a very interesting way. And it explores the idea of alternative richness through community and self-sacrifice.” That does sound like something the Pope would like.