Pope Leo XIV to welcome Hollywood stars to Vatican for rare Holy Year audience

Pope Leo XIV is seeking to bridge the gap between the Vatican and Hollywood.

Some of the film industry’s biggest names will have an exclusive audience with the leader of the Catholic Church on Saturday.

“In this Jubilee Year, Pope Leo XIV has expressed his desire to deepen dialogue with the World of Cinema, and in particular with actors and directors,” the Vatican said in a statement.

The Vatican added that the pope wants to explore how creativity can contribute to the “mission of the Church” and the “promotion of human values.”

The first American-born pontiff will meet with actors and directors, including Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine, Adam Scott, and Spike Lee. 

The event, titled “Audience of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV with the World of Cinema,” is part of the Vatican’s ongoing Holy Year events and will take place at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.

The Vatican’s Holy Year, also known as its Jubilee, is a specific year of forgiveness, grace, and pilgrimage for Catholics that typically occurs every 25 years.

While meetings between the pope and celebrities are not new, this marks the first time Pope Leo will host an event specifically featuring Hollywood figures.

The late Pope Francis held a similar event in June 2024 before his death.

He brought together more than 100 comedians at the Vatican, including Jimmy Fallon, Conan O’Brien, Stephen Colbert, and Whoopi Goldberg.

Ahead of Saturday’s event, the Vatican released new information about Pope Leo and his connection to Hollywood, including his four favorite films.

In a video clip, the pontiff revealed they were: “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), “The Sound of Music” (1965), “Ordinary People” (1980) and “Life Is Beautiful” (1997).

In May, Cardinal Robert Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, was elected as the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church. Born in Chicago, he is the first American to serve as pope.