Martin Scorsese's New Documentary Chronicles Pope Francis' Legacy in Education and Art

Acclaimed director Martin Scorsese is producing a new documentary titled "Aldeas – A New Story," featuring the final in-depth on-camera interview with the late Pope Francis. The film focuses on the Pope's commitment to education and cultural exchange through the Scholas Occurrentes initiative, which he founded in 2013.

Scholas Occurrentes is an international organization dedicated to promoting a "Culture of Encounter" among youth worldwide. A key component of this movement is the Aldeas initiative, which empowers young people in countries such as Indonesia, Italy, and The Gambia to create short films that reflect their unique identities and cultures. These films aim to foster empathy and cultural understanding by sharing personal narratives from diverse communities.

Scorsese's production company, Sikelia Productions, is collaborating with Aldeas Scholas Film on this project. The documentary seeks to showcase Pope Francis's belief in the transformative power of creativity and cinema as tools for education and cultural understanding. Before his passing on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, Pope Francis described the project as "an extremely poetic and very constructive project because it goes to the roots of what human life is, human sociability, human conflicts... the essence of a life's journey."

Scorsese, known for films such as "The Last Temptation of Christ" and "Silence," has a longstanding interest in religious themes. He met with Pope Francis multiple times since 2016, and their conversations have influenced his work. Reflecting on the collaboration, Scorsese stated, "Now, more than ever, we need to talk to each other, listen to one another cross-culturally. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by sharing the stories of who we are, reflected from our personal lives and experiences."

The documentary will interweave the Pope's final interview with footage of young filmmakers participating in the Aldeas initiative, highlighting the intersection of faith, art, and education. By empowering youth to tell their own stories through film, the project aligns with Pope Francis's vision of education as a tool for social integration and peace.

As of now, no release date has been announced for "Aldeas – A New Story." The film stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of Pope Francis and Martin Scorsese to harness the power of cinema for education, cultural understanding, and social change.