Netflix film everyone should watch after Pope Francis' death

Daily Record

21-04-2025

The Pope has died at the age of 88, leaving millions of Catholics around the world in mourning. But one film that has been made about the Head of the Catholic Church is a must-watch for fans
Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88, leaving millions of Catholics worldwide in a state of grief.
In a touching announcement, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis had died at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta.
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His Eminence, Cardinal Farrell said: ""Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.
"His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.
"He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.", reports the Mirror.
Just a day prior to his passing on Easter Monday, Pope Francis had made an appearance in St Peter's Square to extend Easter greetings to the thousands of devotees gathered below.
Pope Francis was the first Pontiff hailing from the Americas or the southern hemisphere and was also the first Jesuit to be elected to the top position in the Catholic church.
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Already in his 70s when he assumed office, Pope Francis' predecessor was Pope Benedict, who chose to retire. This led to the unique situation of having two living Popes residing in the Vatican for the first time.
The poignant film, Two Popes, featuring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, creatively explores the ties between two leading figures and is currently available on Netflix.
Drawing from their true-life narrative, Two Popes delves into the history of both characters and depicts how they offered one another solace, especially after Pope Benedict's stepping down and Pope Francis' subsequent election.
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The movie struck a chord unexpectedly, with audiences applauding Pryce and Hopkins for their compelling renditions of the Catholic leaders.
On popular critique platform Rotten Tomatoes, Two Popes boasts an impressive 88 percent thumbs-up score.
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A reviewer said: "A remarkable accomplishment. It's an important film for LGBT Catholics and for all LGBT film fans and should be experienced on the big screen."
Praise also came from another who said: "Pryce is so good in The Two Popes, capturing a beloved world figure with undeniable grace and surprising heft. It's smart, well-acted, and features some of the snappiest dialogue you'll hear this year."
Moreover, another wrote: "Intelligent filmmaking, telling a very difficult, highly sensitive tale in a low-key, old-fashioned way, and still coming out as entirely relevant to the times."
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Enthusiasm for the drama didn't wane with the public either. One fan commented: "Two stellar performances by standouts at their craft. Amid all the pomp, all the sterile and the staunch, we gets sly little jokes and asides and more in this charming changing of the Catholic seat of most honor."
A second reviewer said: "Totally brilliant acting by the two Popes (Hopkins and Pryce). An interesting story even if one has little sympathy with the Catholic Church. Some may find it boring (no action), but the dialogue is utterly absorbing. Pope Francis' historical background under the Argentinian junta is also a major feature, adding the dimension of religion/politics."
A third critic shared their praise, stating: "A riveting and impactful drama on the teachings and issues of the Roman Catholic Church."
The Two Popes is currently available to stream on Netflix.