Hollywood comes to the Vatican as Pope engages with global film industry

A bracelet from Cate Blanchett and a personalized New York Knicks basketball jersey from Spike Lee were among the gifts presented to the Pope by dozens of prominent figures in cinema and TV on Saturday.

Pope Leo hosted more than 100 actors, directors, producers, and writers at the Apostolic Palace over the weekend, calling his guests “witnesses of hope, beauty, and truth” in today’s world. 

The gathering was the first of its kind in the Vatican, with Leo XIV praised by Ms. Blanchett for his "extraordinary words".

The celebrity meeting has been seen as a way for the Catholic Church to engage more with the world beyond its walls, and demonstrated a strong show of support from Leo XIV for the global film industry, speaking out against the "troubling decline" in cinema attendance.

The pontiff told his guests that cinema represented “a popular art in the noblest sense, intended for and accessible to all,” and that it helped audiences to reflect on their own lives and see "the complexity of their experiences with new eyes".

Among double Oscar-winning Ms. Blanchett and renowned Hollywood director Mr. Lee, the star-studded guest list included Adam Scott, of TV series Severance, actors Chris Pine and Viggo Mortensen, as well as Monica Bellucci, Dario Argento, and Matteo Garrone.

Beneath the frescoes of the Clementine Hall, Pope Leo spoke in Italian to urge filmmakers not to shy away from "the world’s wounds", saying "violence, poverty, exile, loneliness, addiction, and forgotten wars are issues that need to be acknowledged and narrated".

"Good cinema does not exploit pain; it recognizes and explores it. This is what all the great directors have done."

Six months into his Papacy, the first North American Pope has attracted a number of high-profile visitors to the Vatican, including Italian world No.1 tennis player Jannik Sinner, who gifted the Pope a racquet, and actor Al Pacino, who was the first actor to be granted an audience.

Since taking over, the Vatican has also returned 62 artifacts of the indigenous peoples of Canada, including war clubs, masks, and traditional clothing.

The act aims to show the Catholic Church’s recognition of its role in the suppression of indigenous culture in the Americas.

Mr. Lee, a big fan of the New York Knicks and an Oscar-winning director, presented the Pope with a basketball jersey chosen specially for him, explaining his choice of jersey number.

“He’s the 14th Pope, so (the jersey) was number 14. And the back, it said Pope Leo."

Mr. Lee also noted that the Knicks had three players from Villanova University in Pennsylvania, which the Chicago-born Pope attended.

The events included a fifteen-minute speech from the Pope, followed by a blessing, after which he then received each audience member in turn, led by Ms. Blanchett.

Speaking on the experience, the Australian-born actress said: "He really urged us to go back into our day jobs and inspire people."