New Documentary from American Public Television Chronicles the Life and Career of Pope Francis I

POPE FRANCIS – THE SINNER to premiere on public television beginning September 1

BOSTON (July 13, 2015) – In advance of his first papal visit to the United States this fall, American Public Television will premiere a new documentary about the life and career of Pope Francis I. Releasing on public television stations nationwide beginning September 1, Pope Francis – The Sinner examines how an Argentinian Jesuit and self-described “sinner” named Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the most powerful figure in Catholicism, and how he is working to modernize a church in crisis.

Since his election to the papacy in 2013, Pope Francis has been hailed as a revolutionary, garnering affection from believers and non-believers alike with his simple, down-to-earth style. However, the new pope is a man of contradictions, with a divisive reputation as an authoritarian Provincial amongst his fellow Jesuits in Argentina. Pope Francis – The Sinner uses first-hand interviews with Bergoglio’s friends, contemporaries and students to explore his controversial past and the daunting task that lies ahead of him: to simultaneously reform the troubled Catholic Church and keep it from falling apart.

Public television stations in the following markets have already indicated interest, with more to come: KNPB, Reno; KPBS, San Diego; KRMA, Denver; NJTV, New Jersey; New Hampshire Public Television; Maryland Public Television; Mississippi Public Television; WCFE, Plattsburg; WGBH, Boston; WMHT, Albany; WNET, WLIW, New York; and WPBT, Miami.

Pope Francis – The Sinner was acquired by American Public Television from RTÉ Commercial Enterprises for syndication to public television stations nationwide. Viewers looking for this program on their local public television stations can click on the "where to watch" button on the program catalog page at APTonline.org, consult their local stations' website schedules, or check local listings.

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About RTÉ:
RTÉ (Raidió Teilifís Éireann) is Ireland's national public-service media organization. A leader in Irish media, RTÉ provides comprehensive, cost-effective, free-to-air multi-media services to the public in Ireland and interested audiences internationally.

About APT:
American Public Television (APT) has been a leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations since 1961. For 10 years, APT has annually distributed one-third or more of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U. S. Among its 300 new program titles per year, APT programs include prominent documentaries, news and current affairs programs, dramas, how-to programs, children’s series and classic movies. America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, Rick Steves’ Europe, Live From the Artists Den, Doc Martin, Nightly Business Report, Midsomer Murders, Vera, NHK Newsline, Lidia’s Kitchen, Globe Trekker, Simply Ming, and P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home join numerous documentaries and performance programs popular with public television viewers. APT licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service. Now in its 10th year, Create® TV — featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming — is distributed by APT. APT also distributes WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel. To find out more about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.