Beverly Hills-based AMBI Pictures had a press release titled “Film Will Mark First Ever Big Screen Participation Role for the Leader of the Worldwide Catholic Church.” And the Vatican goes crazy.

Pope Francis.
Pope Francis.
Papal spokesman Monsignor Dario Vigano disputed the claim that Francis would “play himself” in “Beyond the Sun.”

Vigano said: “The pope is not an actor.”

A “Beyond the Sun” page on AMBI’s website has been removed, but Google cached a version.

The New York Times and other media reported Tuesday:

“The company said ‘Beyond the Sun’ initiated with Francis asking the filmmakers to make a movie for children that communicates Jesus’s message. The press release was accompanied by photos of the pope with the filmmakers. … Vigano’s comment that he couldn’t exclude that the filmmakers had some footage of the pope suggested that they might have secured some video of him in the privacy of his hotel reception rooms.”

But the Holy Father would bless AMBI for this: All profits from the film will go to two Argentina-based charities that help at-risk children and young adults.

Another report said the AMBI website says the film intends to ‘end with an epilogue from Pope Francis telling children how and where to find Jesus.'”

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