Vatican Hosts Screening Of ‘Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplains Journey,’ Doc About Military Chaplains Who Made Ultimate Sacrifice
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EXCLUSIVE: The upcoming documentary Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplains Journey has received the rare honor of a screening at the Vatican.
The film written and directed by Rich Hull and Justin D. Roberts – a former combat chaplain himself – is produced by Paulist Productions and the U.S. Army Chaplains Corps, marking the first ever co-production between Hollywood and the chaplains corps. Built around the story of Emil Kapaun, a combat chaplain who died as a prisoner of war in North Korea in 1953, the documentary examines the ultimate sacrifice made by hundreds of U.S. military combat chaplains.
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“In 2021, when the remains of former POW/MIA Army combat chaplain Emil Kapaun, possibly the Vatican’s next saint, are identified after 70 years, much of the nation is captivated by their journey home,” notes a description of the film. “As a younger former chaplain unexpectedly embarks on his own journey to greet them, he becomes inspired by the untold stories of the 419 U.S. military chaplain heroes who’ve given their lives for this unique calling. As the paths of these two chaplains from different eras finally collide, we’re reminded of how the profound weight of history and the power of love can converge to produce a life-changing moment of healing.”
Hull, a veteran producer who makes his directorial debut with Fighting Spirit, said, “To screen this film at The Vatican was a once-in-a-lifetime honor. I am so grateful to Pope Francis and the team at The Vatican for such an incredible opportunity. This also makes my Catholic mother very happy.”
Michael Sullivan, president of Paulist Productions, said, “We are thrilled to be the first-ever co-production partner of The U.S. Army Chaplain Corps. It creates a new bridge between Hollywood and the countless untold stories of military heroes.”
Kapaun, ordained a Catholic priest, served as a chaplain in World War II and in the Korean War. In the Korean theater of war, he saved the lives of wounded American soldiers who were at imminent risk of execution. For his valor and self-sacrifice, Kapaun was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by Pres. Obama in April 2013. On that occasion, Pres. Obama said of Kapaun, “He was an American soldier who didn’t fire a gun but who wielded the mightiest weapon of all — the love for his brothers — so pure that he was willing to die so they might live.”
“Combat chaplains wear uniforms, but carry no weapons,” a release about Fighting Spirit notes. “And their service can involve the ultimate sacrifice. For nearly 250 years, in every battle throughout our nation’s history, they’ve been there…quietly supporting soldiers while bullets flew by. Perhaps more than any other profession, diversity is their unique and inspirational strength because, while they may be Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, or Buddhist, when they’re on the front lines of combat, they support and stand up for soldiers of all faiths – and no faith. These are the unsung heroes who shape history, while touching lives and comforting souls.”
UTA is repping the film for distribution. Following the Vatican screening, Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplains Journey will hold sneak previews at the U.S. Army base at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and the Newport Beach Film Festival. The film is produced by Rich Hull and Daniel Schnider; executive producers are Michael Sullivan and Tom Gibbons, CSP for Paulist Productions, and Justin D. Roberts. Co-producers are Holly Stocking, David Moore, and Brandon Moore.
Hull’s producing credits include more than 25 films. He shared the NAACP Image Award with Halle Berry as executive producer of the documentary film For Love of Liberty: The Story of America’s Black Patriots. Hull is also a founder of the ViX streaming service, along with Rafael Urbina and TelevisaUnivision’s Wade Davis and Pierluiggi Gazzolo. The ViX service, originally known as Pongalo, was acquired by TelevisaUnivision in 2021.
Paulist Productions is the 60-year-old non-profit production and financing company founded by Catholic priest Fr. Ellwood “Bud” Kieser. Paulist’s library of films and Emmy-winning TV shows includes over 500 hours of content, among them the remastered Raul Julia-starring Romero, the story of the recently canonized saint Fr. Oscar Romero; The Fourth Wise Man starring Martin Sheen, Alan Arkin, Eileen Brennan, and Ralph Bellamy; and Christmas films such as The Juggler of Notre Dame.
Since 1775, approximately 25,000 Army Chaplains have served as religious and spiritual leaders for more than 25 million soldiers and families. Today’s total force Chaplain Corps includes 3,015 Chaplains, 2,796 Religious Affairs Specialists, 539 Chaplain Candidates, 53 Directors of Religious Education, and 92 other Department of the Army civilians. Army Chaplains have served in more than 270 major wars and combat engagements.
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