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Pope Leo XIV Hosts Star-Studded Vatican Film Summit
12 Nov
Summary
- Pope Leo XIV hosts first-of-its-kind meeting with Hollywood stars
- Reveals his top 5 favorite films, including classics like "It's a Wonderful Life"
- Event aims to "deepen dialogue with the world of cinema"
On November 12, 2025, Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, is hosting a special audience with a delegation of Hollywood stars at the Vatican. The gathering is part of the Church's ongoing Holy Year celebrations and aims "to deepen dialogue with the world of cinema and explore the possibilities that artistic creativity offers to the mission of the Church and the promotion of human values."
Ahead of the event, the Vatican has released a video of the pope naming his top 5 favorite films. The lineup includes Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life," Robert Wise's "The Sound of Music," Robert Redford's "Ordinary People," and Roberto Benigni's "Life Is Beautiful" - all crowd-pleasing classics that explore themes of grace, redemption, and family values.
The star-studded delegation expected to attend the Vatican summit includes Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine, Viggo Mortensen, Alison Brie, Dave Franco, and Monica Bellucci, as well as Oscar-winning directors Spike Lee, George Miller, Giuseppe Tornatore, and Gus Van Sant. This marks a new chapter in the Church's ongoing efforts to engage with popular culture and the world of cinema.
