The new Mother Teresa documentary from the Knights of Columbus had its Vatican debut on Wednesday night, and its creators are hopeful that it will educate future generations about the lady who gave her whole life to helping the underprivileged.
The movie’s director, David Naglieri, said in an interview with CNA’s sister publication ACI Prensa on Wednesday that there is a generation of young people who don’t know much about Mother Teresa since they haven’t had the opportunity to encounter the saint in person.
According to Naglieri, “I felt that this movie was very, very essential today to remind people of this amazing life and also the amazing work that continues to be done by the Missionaries of Charity.”
Mother Teresa established the religious order known as the Missionaries of Charity in 1950.
The Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Patrick Kelly, also spoke to ACI Prensa on how St. Teresa of Calcutta might be taught to young people via the movie.
Asked why he backed the movie, Kelly answered, “Our first premise is charity. Therefore, it seems sense that we would use Mother Teresa as an example.
But the most crucial factor, in his opinion, is that this movie will make Mother Teresa known to a whole new generation of young people who are unfamiliar with her.
They are aware of her, but they don’t remember her from their own lifetimes.
According to Kelly, the Knights gave seminarians a chance to see the movie earlier in the week. He pointed out that Mother Teresa passed away while the seminarians were only 10 years old.
Mother Teresa had such a tremendous influence on all of us who remember her, and we want to express that, pass that on to a new generation, he said.
“So they truly don’t know who Mother Teresa was, and I believe that’s the actual reason why we’re doing this,” he added. The official trailer for the movie is included below.
The Vatican Film Library hosted the movie’s premiere. Kelly, Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, MC, the person who proposed Mother Teresa’s cause for canonization, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal James Michael Harvey, the archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, and Joe Donnelly, the American ambassador to the Holy See, were all present at the screening.
Francis the Pope did not see the film. However, Kelly said that the morning of the premiere, at a private meeting, he provided Pope Francis a DVD of the movie.
In regards to the movie, Kelly said that “his eyes lighted up.” Pope Francis expressed to Kelly his desire for the movie to appeal to a younger audience.
“Mother Teresa: No Greater Love” is showing in cinemas from October 3–4 at more than 960 venues around the country.
The movie portrays the saint of the 20th century and the effect she and her Missionaries of Charity have had on the people they have helped all over the globe using footage from five different continents.
In an interview with CNA on August 23, Naglieri said, “The Missionaries of Charity are not publicity hounds. Consequently, “I believe this tale may positively touch people’s lives and bring them closer to their religion because of the chance to showcase the amazing job they perform and the manner in which they live the Gospel”.”