John XXIII: The Pope of Peace | |
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Written by | Francesco Scardamaglia Massimo Cerofolini |
Directed by | Giorgio Capitani |
Starring | Edward Asner Massimo Ghini Claude Rich Michael Mendl Franco Interlenghi Sydne Rome |
Composer | Marco Frisina |
Original language | Italian |
Production | |
Cinematography | Luigi Kuveiller |
Editor | Antonio Siciliano |
Running time | 208 minutes |
Original release | |
Network | Rai 1 |
Release | 2002 |
John XXIII: The Pope of Peace (Italian : Papa Giovanni - Ioannes XXIII, also known as John XXIII, Pope John XXIII and Pope John XXIII: The Pope Of Peace) is a 2002 Italian television movie directed by Giorgio Capitani. The film is based on real life events of Roman Catholic Pope John XXIII. [1] [2] [3]
In 1958, Pope Pius XII died. Following his passing, Cardinal Angelo Roncalli, overseeing his tomb at his local parish and receiving the news from his secretary Loris Capovilla, heads to the Vatican to participate in a secret conclave that will elect the new Pope. During the meetings, a bitter struggle erupts between the progressive cardinals and the conservative faction, led by Cardinals Alfredo Ottaviani and Domenico Tardini. The conclave continues and Roncalli recalls some scenes from his past, such as his father's refusal to allow his son to become a priest, which led to an uncle supporting him to become a priest and thereby offering his nephew everything he could to achieve his dreams; the support he offered to a group of striking workers when he was a young priest; the secret negotiations he conducted with a Nazi ambassador to save numerous Jews in Turkey during the World War II; and his mediation work on behalf of several French bishops before President Charles de Gaulle. Shortly after, the election takes place and, under the name of John XXIII, Angelo Roncalli accedes to the pontificate. After this, numerous meetings with Anglican clergy and with the daughter of the then leader of the former Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev, Rada Khrushcheva, took place, in the face of the imminent war that was approaching, which forged his legacy.