Pope Leo welcomes Hollywood stars to the Vatican

2025-11-15 20:09:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Pope Leo welcomed Spike Lee, Cate Blanchett, Greta Gerwig, Monica Bellucci and dozens of other Hollywood luminaries to a special audience at the Vatican. The event celebrated cinema and its ability to inspire and unite.

The head of the Vatican, during his speech before directors and celebrities, gathered in an audience hall decorated with frescoes, described film as a popular art in the noblest sense, intended for everyone and accessible to all.

The meeting, organized by the Vatican's culture ministry, followed similar audiences Pope Francis has held in recent years with famous artists and comedians. It is part of the Vatican's efforts to reach beyond the Catholic Church and engage with the secular world.

As the first American pope in history, the meeting held special significance for the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Leo spent nearly an hour after the audience greeting and chatting with each of the participants, something he rarely does for large audiences.

Receiving applause from celebrities, he said that the film industry and cinemas around the world were experiencing a decline, with cinemas that had once been important social and cultural meeting points now disappearing.

"I call on institutions not to give up, but to cooperate in affirming the social and cultural value of cinemas," he said.

Many celebrities said they found Pope Leo's words inspiring and expressed admiration as they walked through the corridors of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, where a lunch awaited them after the audience. /CNA