John Paul II, Catholic Values, and Russia: Based on the Documentary Films by Tamara Yakzhina

The author aims to show the work of Tamara Yakzhina, a Russian journalist and filmmaker of Polish origin, who for years collected materials about Pope John Paul II, with a view to bringing his personality and work closer to Russian audience. The paper concentrates on two documentaries: Fear Not! I Pray for You! (2005) and The Pope Who Did Not Die (2012). Karol Wojtyła is portrayed in both films as a figure seeking dialogue with followers of other religions, including the Orthodox Church. Moreover, the article brings to light John Paul II’s conversations with the Russian, his command of the Russian language, and his passion for Tchaikovsky’s music, Russian literature and philosophy. The author reveals that the Pope, when speaking about the most important matters, used quotes from the works of Dostoevsky. Following Yakzhina and the authorities that she mentions, the author speculates why the Holy Father never visited Russia, even though he was invited by the heads of the state. The author also shows the choice of topics the filmmaker made to accurately bring the figure of the ‘Rimsky papa’, or ‘the Roman Pope’, to Russian-speaking audiences.