by InTrieste
The Vatican will bring a touch of Hollywood to the Apostolic Palace this weekend, announcing that Pope Leo will meet with several prominent actors and directors as part of the Catholic Church’s ongoing Jubilee Year celebrations.
The gathering, scheduled for Saturday morning, aims to foster dialogue between the pontiff and leading figures in cinema. Among the invited guests are actors Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine and Adam Scott, as well as Oscar-winning filmmakers Spike Lee, George Miller, Giuseppe Tornatore and Gus Van Sant. Other performers expected to attend include Monica Bellucci, Alison Brie, Dave Franco and Viggo Mortensen.
In a statement, the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education said Pope Leo seeks to “deepen the dialogue with the world of cinema” and explore how artistic expression can serve the Church’s mission and promote human values. The meeting reflects a broader effort by the Vatican to engage with cultural sectors, following similar initiatives under Pope Francis, who convened gatherings focused on visual arts and comedy in recent years.
Pope Leo has already met with several entertainers since the beginning of his pontificate. In June, Al Pacino became the first major Hollywood figure to visit him, and last week Robert De Niro was received at the Vatican.
In anticipation of the weekend’s cinema-themed event, Vatican officials also revealed a glimpse into the pope’s personal film tastes, highlighting four titles he counts among his favorites: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), The Sound of Music (1965), Ordinary People (1980) and La vita è bella (1997).
The gathering marks another step in the Church’s Jubilee-Year outreach as it seeks to engage contemporary culture — and those who help shape it — in conversation about faith, creativity and the human experience.
