Pope to See Mel Gibson's Movie on Christ

Pope John Paul II has asked to see Mel Gibson's upcoming movie on the death of Jesus Christ.

"The Passion of Christ" is set to be released on Ash Wednesday next year, but the pope wants an advance showing.

Gibson was planning to show the film today in Rome, but his production company decided to postpone the Vatican screening.

According to press reports, Gibson's Icon Productions told the Vatican in an e-mail on Monday night that the actor-director was still working on the final version and asked them to wait because "the film is only weeks away from being finished."

The movie, which covers the final 12 hours in the life of Jesus Christ, has come under intense criticism from Jewish groups. They argue the film will foment anti-Semitism because it portrays Jewish authorities as largely responsible for Christ's death.

But Catholic and other Christian groups, as well as biblical scholars, have defended the film, saying it sticks closely to accounts of the Crucifixion as told in the New Testament.

Recently, Billy Graham viewed the film and heartily endorsed it. He denied that it had anti-Semitic overtones.

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