or


[11/17/05 - 12:00 AM]
Pope Benedict Xvi Attends World Premiere Vatican Screening of CBS's Mini-Series "Pope John Paul Ii" and Blesses the Project in Remarks Made to an Audience of 7,000

[via press release from CBS]

POPE BENEDICT XVI ATTENDS WORLD PREMIERE VATICAN SCREENING OF CBS�S MINI-SERIES �POPE JOHN PAUL II� AND BLESSES THE PROJECT IN REMARKS MADE TO AN AUDIENCE OF 7,000

ROME -- Thursday, Nov. 17 -- Earlier today, Pope Benedict XVI attended a special world premiere screening of the CBS mini-series POPE JOHN PAUL II at the Vatican in the Paolo VI Hall, the site of the pope's weekly general audience. In remarks made to the audience of 7,000, at the conclusion of the screening, Pope Benedict XVI blessed the mini-series. POPE JOHN PAUL II, a new four-hour mini-series event based on the remarkable life of Pope John Paul II, shot on location in Krakow, Poland and in Italy, will be broadcast Sunday, Dec. 4 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) and Wednesday, Dec. 7 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Among the special guests in attendance at the screening were Academy Award winner Jon Voight, who portrays Pope John Paul II during his extraordinary 26-year reign, Cary Elwes, who plays Karol Wojtyla in his adult years prior to being elected pope on Oct. 16, 1978, producers from the mini-series including executive producers Stephen J. Davis and Matilde Bernabei, producer Luca Bernabei and writer/director John Kent Harrison. Also in attendance were Nancy Tellem, President, CBS Paramount Network Television Entertainment Group and Bela Bajaria, Senior Vice President, Movies and Mini-Series, CBS Entertainment.

Pope Benedict XVI, a long-time friend of Pope John Paul II, is briefly depicted in the mini-series during the period in which he was known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, whom Pope John Paul II had appointed to the key position of Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1981. Upon entering the front of the hall, Pope Benedict XVI was welcomed with a joyful applause as the crowd rose. Since Italian is the official language of the Vatican, the Italian version of the film was shown. The crowd saw a brief cut-down of Night One and all of Night Two of the mini-series, which covers the 26 years of the papacy of John Paul II.

The audience clapped enthusiastically when the actor playing Cardinal Ratzinger (Mikolaj Grabowski) made his first appearance in the film, and they gave a rousing round of applause at the conclusion as well.

Following the screening, Voight and Elwes were among a small group of people who were able to speak with the pope. �It was truly a wonderful experience and we were, indeed, more than fortunate to have the pope give our film his blessing,� said Elwes. Added Voight, �When I went up to him, he spoke in Italian but I could understand what he was saying. He was complimenting me. His response to me was very warm and friendly -- like we were old friends. Immediately when he saw me, his eyes lit up and he was very charming. I told him I was so happy to meet him, that it was a big moment in my life.�

Producer Luca Bernabei was delighted with the event. �It was an important premiere of 7,000 people, including the pope, 15 cardinals and approximately 500 priests and bishops from the Curia of the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI said the film found the spirituality of Pope John Paul II and that it has a wonderful message that is going to last and go throughout the world. Then he blessed the project and all the people involved.�

POPE JOHN PAUL II was produced by LuxVide Grupa Filmowa Baltmedia & Studio Filmowe Projektor Grupo Intereconomia Rai Trade.

RATING: To Be Announced





  [november 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· POPE JOHN PAUL II (CBS)





[10/03/25 - 02:17 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting '25 MLB Wild Card Series
Across eight games, the MLB Wild Card Series is averaging 4.4 million viewers, up 65% from last year.

[10/03/25 - 12:37 PM]
BET+ Sets October 23 Premiere for "Carl Weber's The Family Business" Season 6
The 10-episode season will premiere with two episodes, followed by one episode weekly, with the finale on Thursday, December 18.

[10/03/25 - 12:07 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Continues to Shatter Records - Growing Two Weeks in a Row Since Season Premiere for First Time Since 2005
Plus: "High Potential" hit a season high in Total Viewers (4.24 million), growing by double digits over the show's comparable third episode from last fall.

[10/03/25 - 10:57 AM]
Legends, Champions and Icons of October Highlight FOX Sports' Postseason Broadcaster Lineup
FOX Sports begins its Postseason coverage Saturday, October 4 at 4:00 PM ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One as the New York Yankees face the Toronto Blue Jays.

[10/03/25 - 10:05 AM]
All-New Season of "Gold Rush" Returns with High-Stake Risks and Land Fury on Friday, November 7 at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
With only a few short months to mine, top bosses and rising underdogs collide in a race to claim new ground, move more dirt, and strike it rich.

[10/03/25 - 09:12 AM]
FOX Nation Secures Exclusive U.S. Rights to Docuseries "Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar"
The acclaimed series will make its anticipated U.S. debut on FOX Nation on Monday, October 6.

[10/03/25 - 08:02 AM]
TNT Sports to Be Exclusive Home of 2025 NLDS & NLCS
Both best-of-five NLDS series begin Saturday, October 4.

[10/03/25 - 08:01 AM]
TNT Sports Sets BIG EAST Men's College Basketball Schedule for Inaugural 2025-26 Season
TNT Sports' regular season BIG EAST men's basketball schedule will feature 40 appearances by St. John's, UConn, Creighton, Xavier, and Marquette, programs that each clinched berths in last season's NCAA Men's Tournament.

[10/03/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "27 Nights" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a woman is admitted by her daughters to a psychiatric clinic for her carefree ways, an expert must judge if she is ill or simply wants to enjoy life.

[10/03/25 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Steve" - Official Trailer #2 - Netflix
Over one intense day, the devoted head teacher of a last-chance reform school strives to keep his students in line while facing pressures of his own.

[10/03/25 - 03:02 AM]
Miguel Herran Will Play Poli Diaz in "El Porto the Vallecas," the New Film by Daniel Calparsoro for Netflix
Inspired by true events, the film follows the life of Policarpo "Poli" Díaz (Miguel Herrán), a young man from Vallecas who, despite a childhood marked by poverty and family violence, became a boxing legend in 1980s Spain, even fighting for the world lightweight title.

[10/03/25 - 03:01 AM]
Netflix Honors Jane Goodall with Posthumous Release of "Famous Last Words" Docuseries Following Her Passing
The series showcases reflective interviews with some of the world's most influential cultural figures, who agreed to sit down and discuss their legacy, and give their final words, with the understanding that it would only be shared with the world after they passed.

[10/02/25 - 04:09 PM]
ESPN Delivers the Most-Watched WNBA Semifinals Ever
Game 5 between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces averaged 1.8 million viewers, peaking at 2.1 million.

[10/02/25 - 03:01 PM]
Video: "Twisted Wonderland" - Trailer - Disney+
Your favorite villains reimagined in ways you've never dared to dream.

[10/02/25 - 02:51 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting Day One of MLB Wild Card Series
Coverage of Red Sox versus Yankees averaged 6.5 million viewers, peaking at 9.9 million.