'Francis: The Pope From the New World' will Air on CNBC

Contact: Joseph Cullen, Knights of Columbus, 203-800-4923, joseph.cullen@kofc.org

ROME, Oct. 30, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- A documentary that explores the life story and thinking of Pope Francis, the man who has fascinated Catholics and non-Catholics alike since stepping onto the world stage earlier this year, will air Sunday, Nov. 3, at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, 3 p.m. Pacific Time on CNBC.

This will be the second airing on commercial television of Francis: The Pope From the New World, which traces the remarkable rise of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who has become the first pope from the Americas, the first pope who is a Jesuit, and the first to take the name Francis. The hour-long program features interviews from around the world, with close friends, fellow priests, co-workers, his biographer, and the poor of Buenos Aires. Most of the interviews and much of the film were shot on location in Argentina.

"This documentary arrives as the world realizes that a very special man has assumed the leadership of the Catholic Church, and this begins -- but does not end -- with his gestures of humility and care for everyone," said Carl Anderson, one of the documentary's executive producers. "Still, what remain largely unknown to the public are many details of Pope Francis' life, the work he has done and the ways in which he has defended the voiceless and Catholic principles. This documentary delves into those stories."

The documentary begins with the electrifying moment when the new pope stands before the crowd in St. Peter’s Square on March 13, the day of his election. It then takes viewers through both the ordinary and climactic events of his life, from family dynamics, to his call to the priesthood, to his support for the San Lorenzo soccer team, to his care for those in the slums of Buenos Aires.

It also traces his work for those threatened in Argentina's Dirty War that coincided with Father Bergoglio's time as Jesuit provincial, his advocacy for those affected by economic and political turmoil, and the opposition he sometimes encountered from Argentina's political elites.