Pope Leo XIV held a landmark audience with Hollywood luminaries on Saturday, urging actors and filmmakers to continue their work as "pilgrims of the imagination" and to use cinema to "bring hope" to audiences around the world.
The gathering, attended by stars including Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen and Monica Bellucci, was the first occasion of its kind at the Vatican.
Director Spike Lee described the event as a "great day," disclosing the Pope’s willingness to engage with the global film industry.
Beneath the frescoed ceilings of the Clementine Hall, Pope Leo spoke in Italian about the power of cinema not only to entertain but to educate and inspire.
He encouraged filmmakers to confront the world’s challenges in their work, citing violence, poverty, exile, loneliness, addiction and forgotten wars as subjects worthy of attention.
"Good cinema does not exploit pain; it recognises and explores it. This is what all the great directors have done," the Pope said.
The audience comes six months after Leo became the first North American elected to the Papacy.
His predecessor, Pope Francis, was known for his off-the-cuff remarks and dramatic gestures; Leo’s approach is notably more understated.
However, the star-studded meeting is said to offer a glimpse of his emerging style and his desire to connect with the wider world.
Among those present were Chris Pine, director Gus Van Sant, and Italian filmmakers Gianni Amelio and Giuseppe Tornatore, creator of Cinema Paradiso.
Interestingly, the Pope’s personal top film favourites, revealed this week, include The Sound of Music, It’s a Wonderful Life and Roberto Benigni’s Life is Beautiful.
Speaking during a period of strain for cinema, following a notable Hollywood strike and funding challenges in Italy, Pope Leo stressed the cultural and social importance of the industry.
He applauded the "quiet dedication" of those behind the scenes and warned against the closure of cinemas, describing them as the "beating heart of communities."
After delivering a 15-minute speech and blessing, the Pope received each audience member individually, with Blanchett leading the procession.
She presented him with a woven bracelet in solidarity with displaced people, while Lee offered a New York Knicks shirt emblazoned with the number 14 and the words "Pope Leo."
"He really urged us to go back into our day jobs and inspire people," Blanchett said.
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