ROME, APRIL 25, 2002 (Zenit.org).- Italian state television´s prime-time miniseries on the life of Pope John XXIII has become the most watched in the history of Italian TV.
The second and final part of “Papa Giovanni” was viewed Monday by 14.68 million spectators, a 51% market share. Together with Sunday´s installment, it reached an average of 13.18 million spectators and a 47.56% share.
These are audience levels surpassed only by the Italian-French soccer match of the 2000 European Soccer Championship, which had an audience of 21 million spectators, and by an edition of the Italian national music festival of San Remo.
The RAI production, directed by Giorgio Capitani, narrates the life of Angelo Roncalli from his birth and childhood until his death in 1963, and praises the works of the “Good Pope.” U.S. actor Ed Asner plays the role of the elderly Pontiff.
The series was edited in haste since the private Mediaset chain, RAI´s competition, is preparing another on John XXIII, played by British actor Bob Hoskins.
