It is customary for the Holy Father not to express public judgments on artistic works, judgments that are always open to differing valutations of an esthetic character.” MEL GIBSON, PART 1 The film is a cinemagraphic representation of the historical fact of the Passion of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel account. Stanislaw Dziwisz, I confirm that the Holy Father had the chance to view the film ‘The Passion of the Christ’. “After consulting with the personal secretary of the Holy Father, His Excellency Mons. The Pope’s Secretary and closet aide, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, in what may have been his first-ever on the record remark, told the Catholic News Service, “The Holy Father told no one his opinion of the film.” After the controversial back and forth the Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls issued a statement confirming that the Pope’s impression of the film was never meant to become “official.” His entire statement follows: Others in the Vatican added their own praise for the movie, further helping Gibson’s movie. In what turned out to be a “he said or maybe he didn’t say” situation, it was reported at the time that Pope Paul II had said after seeing the film, “It is as it was.” The alleged endorsement was the kick Gibson needed.
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The controversy didn’t just limit itself to the movie or production but went as high as the Pope himself.
Not only did the actor feel wrath from the sky, but first assistant director Jan Michelini also was hit by a lightning bolt. While he was filming the Sermon on the Mount scene, it was reported that he was struck by lightning. During the flogging scene, a few errant lashes left Caviezel with a 14-inch scar on his back. Passion of the Christ was filmed in Italy during the wintertime and brought on several bouts of pneumonia and hyperthermia for Caviezel. The production of the film had its many hardships too. It wasn’t just the final product that was steeped in controversy. You could see why that might give producers pause, when considering whether to make Passion of the Christ 2. It has been reported that the film’s violence, in particular the crucifixion scene, caused heart attacks in two separate incidents, one of those a Brazilian pastor. Realistic in nature, the Flagellation scene was admittingly difficult to watch though it did portray, in graphic detail, the torture Christ was forced to endure. In fact, movie critic Roger Ebert called the movie “the most violent film I have ever seen.” The movie was attacked by many for alleged anti-semitism. Though Passion of the Christ was a hit, not everyone was on board with it. The movie ended with a very brief depiction of Jesus’ resurrection. The flashbacks include The Last Supper and the Sermon on the Mount. The movie began with the Agony in the Garden, then the betrayal of Judas, it showed the graphically brutal Flagellation of Christ, the suffering of Mary, and the crucifixion and death of Jesus. For those who may not have seen the movie, Passion tells the story of the last 12 hours of Jesus’ life with flashbacks to certain, important spiritual moments in his life. The original Passion of the Christ was released with a ton of controversy both during the production and then as the film premiered. With a lot of talk about “the after”, where is Passion of the Christ 2? We went searching and found these answers. And it was not simply because of the money the movie made, but also because there was more to the story.
With the surprising numbers Passion brought in, naturally, there was talk of Gibson bringing back the first film’s star, Jim Caviezel as Jesus, for a second film.