Award-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese is producing a new feature-length documentary titled Aldeas, a New Story, which centers on the legacy of Pope Francis and the global educational initiative he founded. The project is expected to include what is reportedly the late pontiff’s final in-depth on-camera interview for a film.
The documentary will highlight the work of Scholas Occurrentes, a nonprofit launched by Pope Francis in 2013 to promote what he described as a “culture of encounter” through education. According to the film’s producers, the project is “a testament to the enduring belief that creativity is not only a means of expression but a path to hope and transformation.”
“Aldeas, a New Story” will feature conversations between Scorsese and Pope Francis, along with short scripted films produced by young participants in the Aldeas Initiative, an effort under Scholas that combines education, storytelling, and community engagement. These student films—crafted by youth in Italy, Gambia, and Indonesia—offer personal reflections on identity and cultural heritage.
In a joint announcement on April 30, Aldeas Scholas Film and Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions shared that the documentary was born out of a shared commitment to dialogue and creativity. “Now, more than ever, we need to talk to each other [and] listen to one another cross-culturally,” Scorsese said in the official statement. “One of the best ways to accomplish this is by sharing the stories of who we are, reflected from our personal lives and experiences. It helps us understand and value how each of us sees the world.”
Scorsese emphasized the pope’s vision for cultural dialogue: “It was important to Pope Francis for people across the globe to exchange ideas with respect while also preserving their cultural identity, and cinema is the best medium to do that.”
Pope Francis, prior to his passing, called Aldeas “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,” according to the filmmakers.
After the pope’s death, Scorsese offered a moving tribute to the late pontiff in a statement to ABC News, saying: “He acknowledged his own failings. He radiated wisdom. He radiated goodness. He had an ironclad commitment to the good. He knew in his soul that ignorance was a terrible plague on humanity. So he never stopped learning.” Scorsese added, “The loss for me runs deep — I was lucky enough to know him, and I will miss his presence and his warmth. The loss for the world is immense. But he left a light behind, and it can never be extinguished.”
A release date for the film has not yet been announced.
