Pope Leo XIV at an audience with international filmmakers and actors, in the Sala Clementina Hall, Vatican, on November 15, 2025. REUTERS/Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media/Handou
As reported on the Holy See’s website
In the Vatican on November 15, Pope Leo XIV welcomed at his residence a group of artists – actors, filmmakers, directors, and screenwriters, among them Cate Blanchett, Spike Lee, and Monica Bellucci. The Pope emphasized the importance of cinema for modern society and the spiritual life of people.
The Pope himself held brief conversations with each participant of the meeting. The guest list also included Chris O’Donnell, Viggo Mortensen, Monica Bellucci; directors Sally Potter, Spike Lee, and Gus Van Sant, as well as other artists. According to Archbishop Paul Tighe of the Vatican’s Ministry of Culture, the most challenging moment was convincing Hollywood agents that the invitation was not a trick.
The Pontiff, during the audience, stressed the role of cinema in the spiritual life of a person:
“According to the pope, cinema helps viewers think about their own life, look at the complexity of their experience in a new way, and explore the world as if for the first time”
– Pope Leo XIV
Leo XIV also noted that films are
“the intersection of desires, memories, and questions”
– Pope Leo XIV
, when the mind becomes more enlightened and imagination develops. However, he warned about the decline of theaters and cinemas and urged institutions not to give up, continuing joint efforts to preserve cultural and social values.
Spike Lee gave the Pope a Knicks basketball jersey with the number 14 and the name Leo on the back (that is, Leo the Fourteenth). The director also noted that three players from Villanova University are currently playing for the Knicks, where he studied.
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