A host of Hollywood celebrities is set to meet Pope Leo at the Vatican on Saturday, in what observers describe as a high-profile effort to connect the pontiff with the world of cinema. The audience will take place at Leo’s Apostolic Palace residence and is expected to include actors Cate Blanchett, Monica Bellucci, Chris Pine, and Adam Scott, alongside Oscar-winning directors Spike Lee, George Miller, and Gus Van Sant.
The Vatican stated that Pope Leo “has expressed his desire to deepen dialogue with the world of cinema … exploring the possibilities that artistic creativity offers to the mission of the church and the promotion of human values.” Ahead of the meeting, the Chicago-born pontiff revealed his four favorite films: The Sound of Music, It’s a Wonderful Life, Ordinary People, and Life Is Beautiful.
The gathering, organized by the Vatican’s culture office, coincides with the jubilee of artists and highlights the role of culture in the Catholic Church’s holy year. However, analysts suggest it also serves to raise the profile of Pope Leo beyond Catholic media, following recent audiences with figures like Robert De Niro.
At 70, Pope Leo has led the Church for just over six months and is widely regarded as more mild-mannered and low-key than his charismatic but divisive predecessor, the late Pope Francis. “Leo doesn’t have the same charisma as Francis, who was always giving catchy one-liners,” said Hendro Munsterman, Vatican correspondent for Nederlands Dagblad. “Leo is a listener, very quiet and modest, which has its own charm. But he is also a product that has to be created.”
Since his election in May, the Vatican has been actively shaping Pope Leo’s public image. In one memorable moment, he welcomed Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner, joking as Sinner offered him a racket and ball, “Here we’ll break something. Best not to!” He has also held private audiences with Al Pacino and Italian singer Laura Pausini, signaling a strategic engagement with sports and culture to raise his profile in popular media.
Vatican correspondents note that these encounters are about more than celebrity meetings they offer a platform for positive public relations for both the pope and the visiting stars. Severina Bartonitschek of KNA remarked, “No one outside the Catholic bubble talks about the pope normally, and about Leo especially. These events give the Vatican an opportunity to generate great photos and positive coverage.”
The approach mirrors that of Pope Francis, who during his papacy regularly engaged with Hollywood stars and cultural figures to communicate messages of faith, social justice, and environmental stewardship. Francis famously hosted comedians like Jimmy Fallon and Chris Rock, encouraging them to use humor to spread positivity, and met global icons such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Angelina Jolie, and Bono.
With this upcoming audience, Pope Leo appears to be continuing the Church’s engagement with popular culture, using the influence of cinema and the arts to connect faith with contemporary society.
