Martin Scorsese is preparing to release a new film dedicated to Pope Francis, featuring a private screening at the Vatican to commemorate the first anniversary of the pope's passing.

The acclaimed 83-year-old director of Goodfellas will showcase "Aldeas, the Final Dream of Pope Francis" on Tuesday, April 21, coinciding with the anniversary of the late pope's death at the age of 88.

This project, supported by Scholas Occurrentes—the global Catholic educational initiative established by Francis—includes footage captured in various countries, showcasing what is referred to as the late pontiff's final recorded testimony.

As outlined in the promotional materials from the organization, the film aims to unite communities to share their narratives, including Scorsese's return to his ancestral village in Sicily, where he collaborated with local youth to create a film.

The promotional content describes the film as "a powerful convergence of Pope Francis' and Martin Scorsese's visions of art, spirituality, and humanity," stating that it transcends conventional cinema, transforming storytelling into a means of resistance, identity, and purpose, while establishing film as a catalyst for cultural change.

The project is deeply rooted in Francis' ideals, with the late pontiff characterizing it as "an extraordinarily poetic and deeply transformative project, because it reaches the very root of human life: our sociability, our conflicts, and the very essence of life's journey."

A statement accompanying the film's release noted: "Pope Francis recognized that cinema would play a crucial role in realizing a culture of encounter.

"By working from the peripheries, the project allows individuals to share their stories, celebrating cultural diversity and promoting intercultural and intergenerational dialogue.

"It represents a new kind of cinema, emerging from a new kind of education, helping to shape a new culture."

Scorsese remarked, "This film is a tribute to the Holy Father."

He added, "It honors his memory by encapsulating the spirit of his ministry and his vision of nurturing a more humane culture. At this point in history, I believe that is not just a dream, but a necessity."

In an interview with Variety at the Taormina Film Festival, Scorsese expressed, "In a way, I think that my Sicilian connection, combined with my religious experiences, has sparked a curiosity and a search for my own identity—who I am."