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Pope Benedict XVI leaves at the end of the general audience in Paul VI's Hall at the Vatican November 28, 2012. REUTERS/Max Rossi

Pope Benedict XVI leaves at the end of the general audience in Paul VI's Hall at the Vatican November 28, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Max Rossi

MUNICH, Germany | Fri Nov 30, 2012 10:56am EST

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Two German producers have bought the film rights to an upcoming biography of Pope Benedict by the Bavarian author of three best-selling interview books with the pontiff.

The Odeon Film company said producers Marcus Mende and Peter Weckert planned a film for international release based on a biography by journalist Peter Seewald due to be published in early 2014.

Seewald's book-length interviews with Benedict - two as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and one as pope - have given readers many insights into the life and thoughts of the shy theologian who now heads the Roman Catholic Church.

Seewald has signed on as a consultant to the scriptwriter, Odeon Film said in a statement on Thursday. It gave no information about the schedule for the film or who might play the main role.

"The producers plan an international film that illustrates all aspects of the extraordinary life and work of Joseph Ratzinger from his birth on Easter night in 1927 in Marktl am Inn in Bavaria to his pontificate today," it said.

Benedict's predecessor Pope John Paul was the subject of a dozen documentary films around the world and two major television movies in the United States.

(Reporting by Tom Heneghan; editing by Andrew Roche)
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Comments (2)
cristoiglesia wrote:
I pray that they do justice for this great Pope who is destined to be one of the doctors of the Church along with the great saints like Augustine and Aquinas. He has also been one who was up to the challenges that the Church faces today and has led the Church from a Church in decline to one growing robustly with the restoration of the fundamental role of the Church which is heavenly rather than worldly. Truly today people see the Church as the ark saving humanity from a flood of sin in the world just as the ark of Noah saved man from the flood.

Dec 03, 2012 10:46am EST  --  Report as abuse
Triana wrote:
With Pete Seewald consulting the screenwriters, this should be phenomenal. Seewald was a purported atheist / agnostic when he met, then, Cardinal Ratzinger (later converted). It seems the Pope trusts him, as he’s sat down for 3 interview style bio-books with him thus far. IMDB is currently reporting the film to be released some time in 2014.

Dec 04, 2012 6:33pm EST  --  Report as abuse
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