Movies

New short film chronicles Pope Leo XIV’s Chicago life before papacy

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

From popping a wheelie in front of Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home to sitting in “the pope’s chair” at a favorite local pizzeria, filmmaker Rob Kaczmark appeared to be enjoying every stop along a tour of Pope Leo’s childhood stomping grounds in a new short film released by Spirit Juice, a Catholic production company.

6/23/25

Reading Time 3 min

Irish teens inspired by Carlo Acutis make Lego film of his life

By Patrick J. Passmore

Three teen brothers from Ireland have turned their admiration for Blessed Carlo Acutis into a Lego movie about the life of the soon-to-be canonized teenage Italian Catholic who died from leukemia at the age of 15.

6/11/25

Reading Time 3 min

New film ‘The Ritual’ tells true story of most-documented exorcism in the U.S.

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

In 1928, Father Joseph Steiger, a priest at St. Joseph’s in Earling, Iowa, was approached with an urgent concern. A 46-year-old woman named Emma Schmidt was experiencing blackouts, aversions to holy objects and other terrible afflictions. After years of extensive psychiatric treatment provided no relief, Schmidt’s priest suggested an exorcism.

6/11/25

Reading Time 4 min

Filmmakers behind Acutis documentary to launch streaming platform, new film on Pope Leo XIV

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

A new global streaming platform for faith-driven content will launch worldwide May 28 and serve as the exclusive streaming home of “Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality,” the top-grossing faith-based documentary of the year at the box office.

5/16/25

Reading Time 2 min