VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV hosted some of Hollywood’s most prominent filmmakers and actors at the Vatican on Saturday, praising the power of cinema to inspire, challenge, and bring people together.
In a special audience inside a frescoed Vatican hall, the pope urged artists to use film to elevate marginalized voices and to embrace storytelling that probes deeper questions. He described cinema as a popular art in the noblest sense, meant for everyone and capable of stirring emotion and reflection.
“When cinema is authentic, it does not merely console, but challenges,” Leo said, adding that powerful films often move audiences to tears they did not expect to shed.
The gathering, organized by the Vatican’s culture ministry, continues the Holy See’s outreach to leading figures in the arts. For Leo, the first American pope and a lifelong admirer of classic movies, the event held personal meaning. Earlier in the week, he named his four favorite films, including It’s a Wonderful Life and Life Is Beautiful.
Leo spent nearly an hour greeting each guest, an uncommon gesture for large audiences. Stars such as Spike Lee, Cate Blanchett, and Greta Gerwig joined Italian and American filmmakers for the event.
The pope also acknowledged the sharp decline of movie theaters worldwide, saying that cinemas that once served as cultural hubs are disappearing. He urged institutions to work together to preserve the social and cultural value of the theater experience.
Spike Lee, who presented Leo with a custom Knicks jersey, said he was surprised to receive the invitation. Blanchett praised the pope’s understanding of cinema’s ability to cross borders and confront difficult issues without dividing audiences.
“Sitting in the dark with strangers is a way we reconnect to what unites us rather than what divides us,” she said.
Other attendees, including directors Sally Potter and Gus Van Sant, said they were moved by Leo’s reflections on silence, beauty, and the importance of slow, thoughtful filmmaking.
Archbishop Paul Tighe, the Vatican’s culture official, said the guest list came together over three months with help from Hollywood contacts, including director Martin Scorsese. He said the biggest challenge was convincing agents that the invitation was real.
Tighe said the event aimed to deepen dialogue between the Church and the cultural world, noting that film remains a democratic and influential art form that shapes lives across the globe.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
