Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mar 21, 2004 / 22:00 pm
On the occasion of the release of “The Passion of the Christ” in Argentina on Thursday, March 25, the official Argentinean Catholic news agency AICA requested the opinion of several of the country’s bishops who have had a chance to see the film. The bishops defend the evangelistic value of the movie, thus weakening the comments of various critics.
Archbishop Mario Maulión of Paraná and head of the bishops’ Committee on Social Communications told AICA “The Passion of the Christ” moved him “very deeply” and left him “profoundly impressed.”
“The moments in the life of Jesus are very intensely portrayed in this movie.” “It’s a movie with a clear religious meaning. Any other interpretation one might have, and that some indeed are having, has no basis. Regarding the responsibility for the death of Jesus, the interpretation of the movie is that Jesus did not die to go against anybody, but rather he died for all, for Jews and non-Jews. And this attitude of reconciliation and searching for God is the strongest message of the film.”
Bishop Ruben Frassia of Avellaneda says Mel Gibson’s movie is “astonishing, a cinematographic work of art.” “The sets are amazing, and I loved the original language, Aramaic, and the Latin of the Roman characters.”