TORONTO – From St. Peter to Pope Francis, 266 pontiffs have mostly nurtured the heavenly connection between religion and art, and despite the odd disagreement between Pope and Poet, artistic masterpieces were often Church sponsored or inspired. Pope Julius II who successfully forced French Troops out of Italy in 1512 (his own work of art), commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel. And Dante’s exile from Florence, ordered by Pope Boniface, effectively inspired his Divine Comedy. Today however, Pope Francis is talking to Artists in a new documentary titled, “Preacher of Beauty: A Spiritual Journey Through Art and Faith.”
The documentary will feature a series of conversations between Pope Francis and prominent international artists, yet undisclosed by Producers Andrea Iervolino (Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend) and Luis Quinelli – founder of a non-profit called Vitae Foundation. The pair confirmed the project with His Holiness in a recent trip to the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, announcing afterwards that the shooting is scheduled for March of this year.
A director has yet to be appointed for the documentary, but Iervolino has confirmed that the project will be filmed entirely inside the Sistine Chapel. This is no small achievement, as filming is prohibited inside the hallowed walls of the 15th century chapel. In fact, no film has ever been permitted to do so – until now. Instead, recent Hollywood films such as The Two Popes (2019) and Conclave (2024) have had to build monstrously bigger replicas of the space, while adding special effects and techniques.
The Vitae Foundation organized a summit in 2022 which brought global artists together with Pope Francis to discuss their role “in triggering a cultural transformation that promotes the common good, universal values and a culture of encounter”, as per a Vatican statement. The documentary’s title was inspired by Pope Francis’s parting message at the Summit as he encouraged attendees to be “Preachers of beauty”. Guests included Andrea Bocelli, Denzel Washington and Patricia Heaton.
“Preachers of Beauty’ is not just a documentary film; it is a spiritual call to embrace the transformative power of art,” says Iervolino. Producer Luis Quinelli adds, “This project stems from a profound desire to show how art can reflect the greatness of creation and bring souls closer together. Pope Francis inspires us to see art as a vehicle for unity, a bridge between heaven and earth, capable of sparking positive change in the hearts of all. With ‘Preachers of Beauty,’ we aim to deliver a message of universal love and renewed hope.”
(Photo Andrea Iervolino and Pope Francis courtesy of The Andrea Iervolino Company; Image of the Sistine Chapel Movie Set courtesy of Netflix/The Two Popes)
Massimo Volpe is a filmmaker and freelance writer from Toronto: he writes reviews of Italian films/content on Netflix
