Moscow, Russia, Apr 15, 2008 / 04:55 am
For the first time ever, a state television channel in Russia will broadcast a documentary film about Pope Benedict XVI. At the climax of the film, the Pope will speak on television to the Russian people and express his regard for them, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) informs Catholic News Agency.
The Pope’s greeting is addressed to Patriarch Alexei II, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church; to Orthodox Christians; to Catholic bishops and lay Catholics in Russia; and to all those living on Russian soil. Pope Benedict’s address, which is partly in Russian, emphasizes the necessity of dialogue among Christians.
The documentary will be broadcast on April 16, Pope Benedict’s 81st birthday.
The documentary film, which was sponsored and promoted by the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, will be broadcast by the state news channel Vesti. The documentary depicts important stages in the life of Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI. Russian people are generally unfamiliar with his life.