Vatican City, Dec 17, 2003 / 22:00 pm
Pope John Paul II saw Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of Christ” and endorsed the film saying: “It is as it was,” reported National Review columnist Peggy Noonan.
The Pope reportedly saw the film the weekend before last in his private rooms with his close friend, Msgr. Stanislaw Dziwisz. He shared his review with Msgr. Dziwisz, who in turn gave the film’s co-producer, Steve McEveety, the Pope’s five-word response the following Monday.
The Pope’s response was: "It is as it was." Essentially, the Pope felt that the film tells the story of Christ’s Passion the way that it actually happened.
The Vatican has avoided official comment on the film because the film has been accused of being anti-Semitic. But, according to Noonan and McEveety, John Paul II wanted to see the film despite the controversy.