"Although Pope John Paul II watched at least part of Mel Gibson's film, 'The Passion of the Christ,' he made no comment about the film, said a senior Vatican official close to the pope. 'The Holy Father saw it, but he made no comment. He watched in silence,' the official told Catholic News Service Dec. 24. 'The Holy Father does not comment, does not give judgments on art,' the official said. 'I repeat: There was no declaration, no judgment from the pope...' The pope's spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, has refused to confirm the supposed papal quote, which was relayed to reporters by the film's co-producer, Steve McEveety.' " This new information supercedes the story posted December 18, both here, as well as elsewhere, that the Pope had reportedly said, "It is as it was." Whether he actually said it or not, we may never know. What is clear as of now is that someone does not want us to know what, if anything, the Pope really said.
