Pope Leo XIV Hails Cinema as "Workshop of Hope"

On November 15th, 2025, Pope Leo XIV surprised the film industry by hosting a special gathering at the Vatican. The pontiff welcomed a distinguished audience of directors, actors, and executives, including the likes of Viggo Mortensen, Cate Blanchett, and Spike Lee.

In his address, Pope Leo XIV expressed his deep appreciation for the art of cinema. He acknowledged that while the medium is over a century old, it remains a "young, dreamlike and somewhat restless" form of expression. The Pope praised cinema's ability to convey the "greatness and fragility" of human life, as well as the "longing for infinity."

Emphasizing the spiritual dimension of filmmaking, the Pope called on artists to make cinema "an art of the Spirit." He urged them to confront the world's wounds, such as "violence, poverty, exile, loneliness, addiction and forgotten wars," without exploitation, but with a recognition and exploration of these complex issues.

The Pope also defended the value of "slowness, silence, and difference" in authentic artistic expression, arguing that "beauty is not just a means of escape; it is above all an invocation." He challenged filmmakers to create work that "does not merely console, but challenges" the audience, articulating the questions that "dwell within us."

In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV expressed his hope that cinema would continue to serve as a "meeting place and a home for those seeking meaning and a language of peace," never losing its capacity to amaze and offer a glimpse of the "mystery of God."