In a remarkable convergence of faith and film, dozens of Hollywood's most prominent figures gathered at the Vatican for a special audience with Pope Leo XIV. The event, which took place on Sunday 16 November 2025, saw iconic directors and actors, including Spike Lee, Cate Blanchett, and Greta Gerwig, welcomed by the pontiff to celebrate the art of cinema.
A Papal Endorsement for the Silver Screen
Addressing the esteemed guests in a Vatican audience hall, Pope Leo XIV, who was elected earlier this year following the death of Pope Francis, delivered a powerful affirmation of film's cultural significance. He described cinema as "a popular art in the noblest sense, intended for and accessible to all." He went further, highlighting its profound emotional and intellectual impact, stating, "When cinema is authentic, it does not merely console, but challenges. It articulates the questions that dwell within us, and sometimes, even provokes tears that we didn't know we needed to shed."
The Vatican's culture ministry orchestrated the occasion as a strategic part of its ongoing mission to engage with the secular world. Archbishop Paul Tighe, the deputy at the ministry, revealed that compiling the guest list was a three-month endeavour, assisted by a handful of well-connected Hollywood contacts, including the legendary director Martin Scorsese.
Convincing a Sceptical Industry
Archbishop Tighe admitted that one of the initial hurdles was convincing Hollywood agents that the papal invitation was genuine and not an elaborate hoax. "It's an industry where people have their commitments months in advance and years in advance," he explained, "so obviously it was a little hit and miss, but we're very pleased and very proud" by the eventual turnout.
For many of the attendees, the invitation came as a surprise. Spike Lee, the acclaimed director of Do The Right Thing, told reporters, "it was a surprise to me that I even got invited." In a personal gesture, Lee presented Pope Leo with a New York Knicks basketball jersey as a gift.
Stars Reflect on Cinema's Deeper Purpose
Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett found the Pope's comments deeply resonant with her own views on filmmaking. She stated that his words were inspiring, adding, "Filmmaking is about entertainment, but it's about including voices that are often marginalised and not shy away from the pain and complexity that we're all living through right now."
In a recent revelation that further cemented his status as a cinephile, the Pope shared his personal list of favourite films, which includes:
- It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
- The Sound of Music (1965)
- Ordinary People (1980)
- Life Is Beautiful (1997)
This unique gathering marks a significant moment of dialogue between the spiritual leadership of the Catholic Church and the global creative powerhouse of Hollywood, underscoring a shared belief in cinema's power to challenge, unite, and move humanity.
