Pope does not judge films, says Vatican

THE Vatican pronounced what it hoped was the last word yesterday on whether the Pope ever offered an endorsement of Mel Gibson’s controversial biblical epic The Passion of the Christ.

It declared that John Paul "does not make public judgements on artistic works".

It was the Vatican's first official statement on the issue after weeks of silence and came just days after John Paul's long-time secretary sought to put the controversy to rest, denying reports the pope ever gave the thumbs-up to the film by saying: "It is as it was".