Scorsese also talked about the meaning of his own controversial 1988 epic “The Last Temptation of Christ” and of “the subsequent step in his research on the figure of Jesus” represented by his smaller-scale 2016 drama “Silence” about the persecution of Jesuit Christians in 17th-century Japan. That film screened in 2016 at the Vatican. Francis is the first Jesuit pope and is known to have joined the Jesuit order hoping to become a missionary in Japan.
I would add that the 1980 "Shogun" miniseries based on the book was broadcast on network TV and was wildly popular. It had 13 Primetime Emmy nominations with 8 wins, won 3 Golden Globes, a People's Choice and other awards. The Jesuits were very much portrayed as villains in the series and the book. I have no doubt such work would have no chance of being created today.
Strangely, Jesuits in Japan just came up today in a vastly different context:
Martin Scorsese Meets Pope Francis, Announces Film About Jesus – Report (Variety 5/29/2023)
I would add that the 1980 "Shogun" miniseries based on the book was broadcast on network TV and was wildly popular. It had 13 Primetime Emmy nominations with 8 wins, won 3 Golden Globes, a People's Choice and other awards. The Jesuits were very much portrayed as villains in the series and the book. I have no doubt such work would have no chance of being created today.