Pope Leo XIV has held an audience with Hollywood stars, urging actors and directors including Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen, and Monica Bellucci to continue their work as pilgrims of the imagination, helping to bring hope.
The celebrity meeting was a sprinkling of star dust for a still relatively new pope and a way for the Catholic Church to engage more with the world beyond.
It was also a strong show of support from Leo XIV for the global film industry, as he spoke out against the troubling decline in cinema-going. Hailed by director Spike Lee as a great day, the gathering was the first of its kind in the Vatican.
Beneath the magnificent frescoes of the Clementine Hall, Pope Leo praised the power of cinema to entertain and educate, as well as its capacity to amaze. Yet, he urged filmmakers not to shy away from what he termed the world's wounds.
Violence, poverty, exile, loneliness, addiction, and forgotten wars are issues that need to be acknowledged and narrated, the Pope stated. Good cinema does not exploit pain; it recognizes and explores it. This is what all great directors have done.
This engagement serves as a significant mark of Leo XIV's papacy, in contrast to his predecessor, Pope Francis, known for his charismatic style. While some Catholics feel Leo has been slow to make his mark, this star-studded event may signal a new direction.
The cast of notable filmmakers present included Chris Pine and filmmaker Gus Van Sant, alongside the Italian cinema greats Gianni Amelio and Giuseppe Tornatore. As the Pope discussed the challenges facing the industry, he underscored the critical role cinemas play in communities.
More than a few people are saying that the art of cinema and the cinematic experience are in danger. I urge institutions not to give up, but to cooperate in affirming the social and cultural value of this activity, Pope Leo emphasized.
After delivering a heartfelt speech, he greeted each person personally. Cate Blanchett, who offered a bracelet as a symbol of solidarity for the displaced, stated that the Pope's message was one of inspiration for her and her colleagues.
The gathering not only reinforced the Vatican's connection to the entertainment world but also illustrated Pope Leo XIV's intent to inspire and engage the global artistic community.
