MEL GIBSON - POPE APPROVES GIBSON'S 'PASSION'

POPE JOHN PAUL II has praised MEL GIBSON's controversial movie THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST - and believes it truly depicts events surrounding JESUS CHRIST's death.

The Pontiff and a number of leading Catholic Church officials were given private screenings of the film, ahead of its theatrical release next year (04) - and a Vatican spokesperson, quoting the Pope, said the film "shows how it was".

The film is set to open in America on 25 February (04), Ash Wednesday in the Roman Catholic calendar.