Catholic Media Journal

Communication Arts students from Franciscan University of Steubenville will be in Washington, D.C., April 15-18, to produce a reality-based television mini-series during Pope Benedict XVI’s visit.

Their production will be one of the first professionally produced documentaries to tell the true story of how college students are positively influenced by their religion and how they are moved by the first visit of this pontiff to the United States.

Prior to Pope Benedict’s arrival, the Franciscan University film crew will be granted special access to the John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., where the pope will conduct a peace dialogue with leaders of other faiths that will be one of the most significant interfaith discussions of his papacy. The crew will be allowed into the chapel where the pope will pray and receive an in-depth briefing about the preparations and protocol for the pope’s visit.

The production crew will also conduct interviews with college students and young people as they attend other papal events and mingle in Washington, D.C., streets, cafés, and restaurants.

In addition, they will conduct interviews with some of the world’s leading athletes who will be in Washington for the pope’s visit and a meeting of Catholic Athletes for Christ.

The three-part mini-series is a collaborative effort between Capistrano Films, an inspirational and faith-based production company, and the Communication Arts Department of Franciscan University of Steubenville. It will be co-directed by Antonio Soave of Capistrano Films and Dr. Jim Coyle of Franciscan University. The crew, comprised of television and journalism students, will be led by Maria Mitchell and Emma Smits.