Hollywood stars meet Pope Leo XIV at Vatican City
發佈日期: 2025-11-17 01:16
TVB News
Pope Leo XIV has welcomed an array of Hollywood luminaries to a special Vatican audience to celebrate cinema and its ability to inspire and unite.
The Pope encouraged the filmmakers and celebrities gathered in a frescoed Vatican audience hall to use their art to include marginal voices, calling film, "a popular art in the noblest sense, intended for and accessible to all."
The encounter, organised by the Vatican's culture ministry, followed similar audiences Pope Francis had in recent years with famous artists and comedians.
It is part of the Vatican's efforts to reach out beyond the Catholic Church to engage with the secular world.
The gathering also seemed to have particular meaning for history's first American pope, who grew up in the heyday of Hollywood.
The 70-year-old saying this week his favourite films include "It's a Wonderful Life," "The Sound of Music" and "Ordinary People."
In a speech he acknowledged the film industry and cinemas around the world were experiencing a decline, with theatres once important social and cultural meeting point disappearing from neighbourhoods.
Greeting the pontiff after the speech actress Cate Blanchett who gave him a UNHCR bracelet.
Director Spike Lee who gave the Pontiff a New York Knicks jersey with Pope Leo 14 on it.
Also greeting the pope, actor Viggio Mortensen And actress Greta Gerwig.
"His Holiness's words today were a real charge not to shy away from difficult, painful stories and he was talking about tears that often people are unable to shed in their everyday life as well as laughter, you know, that often happens in the cinema," said actress Cate Blanchett. "So he really urged us to go back into our day jobs and inspire people and create those spaces."
Director Gus Van Sant said: "He was very laid back, you know, he had a fantastic message of beauty in cinema, I think it was his main topic, and the effects of story in relation to human kindness and hope."
"It was a surprise to me that I even got invited," said Spike Lee. "So I've been to Rome many, many times. But the first time in Vatican City and the first time meeting the pope, so it was a great day, Great day."
