[Apologetics] Shoes of the Fisherman: Life Imitates Art

[Art Kelly]

In 1963, Morris West published Shoes of the Fisherman,
a novel about the first non-Italian Pope in 450 years,
who came from a Communist country. 

Critics said the premise of the book was absurd.

In 1968, the book was made into a movie with Anthony
Quinn starring as the Pope.

"You hope and pray you will be given inspiration,
because you're dealing with such a sacred subject,"
said Michael Anderson, the director of "The Shoes of
the Fisherman," who was given extraordinary access by
the Vatican in making the film. "The challenge was to
keep the wording and the teachings accurate and at the
same time convey the sense of drama."

At one point, Quinn had to be talked out of quitting
the film when he felt that a swelling of his eye had
been a curse from God.

"The swelling wouldn't go down, and we had to shoot
around him for 10 days," Mr. Anderson recalled. "Tony
found something in Holy Scripture called 'Monk's
disease,' which was an affliction of the eye for those
who pretend to be holier than they were. He said: 'I
am me. I'm not the Pope. I'm being punished.' It was a
solemn moment." 

Both Morris West and Anthony Quinn died in 2004.

I’ve seen the movie Shoes of the Fisherman, which
depicts the Pope’s election in the conclave of the
College of Cardinals, but I’ve not yet read the book. 
I’m told, however, that the Pope in the 1963 book
resembles Pope John Paul II in some striking ways.

You might want to go to a video store and rent the
movie Shoes of the Fisherman. I’m pretty sure the
novel is available at Borders, Barnes and Noble, and
most larger book stores.  At the least, you should be
able to get it throug Amazon.com or borrow it from a
library.

Art


ART KELLY, ATM-S
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