The event, organized by the Vatican’s culture ministry, drew stars including Spike Lee, Cate Blanchett and Judd Apatow.
The Vatican shared the spotlight with Hollywood on Saturday as Pope Leo XIV hosted dozens of stars, including Cate Blanchett, Spike Lee and Monica Bellucci for a special audience celebrating the power of cinema.
The event, organized by the Vatican’s culture ministry, took place in a frescoed Vatican audience hall. Leo called on the attending artists to use their art to include marginalized voices and praised film to console and challenge audiences.
« It articulates the questions that dwell within us, and sometimes, even provokes tears that we did not know we needed to express », Leo said.
The first U.S.-born pope also acknowledged the financial difficulties facing movie theaters. He said institutions should not give up, but « cooperate in affirming the social and cultural value » of theaters, drawing applause from the audience.
« His speech was beautiful and very inspiring, about hope and our work in cinema.
