Pope Benedict highlights predecessor’s prayer and zeal

(April 11, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday highlighted the life of prayer and missionary zeal of late Pope John Paul II, as shown in a new documentary film created for the May 1 beatification of the his predecessor. The film, produced by a Polish director, Jarosław Szmidt Artrama, includes several testimonies from religious leaders and other personalities from the worlds of media, culture, science and politics. At the end of the screening in the Vatican, Pope Benedict highlighted "two hinges" of John Paul II's life and ministry: prayer and missionary zeal. He affirmed that John Paul II was a great contemplative and a great apostle of Christ, adding "God chose him for the See of Peter and he has led all of us in this pilgrimage and he continues to accompany us from heaven." He noted, "Because of the seriousness with which it was prepared, the quality of its making, this film belongs among the more valuable gifts to the public offered on the occasion of the upcoming beatification of my beloved predecessor."