One of Pope Leon XIV’s wishes is for the Vatican to connect with popular culture. This has been demonstrated since his election as pope last May, following the death of Pope Francis. In addition to the most usual meetings with European monarchs and politicians, the Vatican is organizing special hearings with prominent figures from the international film industry. The last time they met was at a private viewing with Robert De Niro, who visited the Vatican with some of his family last month to remember the actor’s son Leandro, who died of an overdose in 2023 at age 19.
The Vatican said the pope will be joined next Saturday morning for a special audience at the Apostolic Palace, where a delegation of Hollywood stars will welcome him. Among the celebrities who attended the event were actors Cate Blanchett, Monica Bellucci, Viggo Mortensen, Dave Franco, director Spike Lee, and Spanish director Albert Serra. Its purpose is to explore “the possibilities that artistic creativity brings to the church.” Oscar-winning directors George Miller, Giuseppe Tornatore, and Gus Van Sant are also expected to collaborate.
According to the Vatican, the meeting is part of the church’s annual Jubilee celebrations and aims to “deepen dialogue with the world of cinema and promote human values.” Popular figures from the Italian film industry will also be in attendance, including directors Gianni Amelio, Francesca Archibuzzi and Marco Bellocchio.
This citation is being promoted by the Agency for Culture and Education in cooperation with the Agency for Communication and the Vatican Museums, and continues other conferences dedicated to the arts, such as those to be celebrated in 2023 on figurative art and on humor in 2024.
In front of this audience, Pope Leon This quote echoes the spirit of the “Jubilee of Artists and the World of Culture,” which was celebrated last month in February. At that time, Pope Francis was scheduled to visit the mythical Cinecittà Studio and meet with more than 700 artists, although he was ultimately unable to go because he had to be hospitalized with bronchitis.
To commemorate Saturday’s meeting, the Pope revealed four of his favorite films from history. How beautiful is life? (1946), by Frank Capra. Smiles and tears (1965), by Robert Wise. people running (1980), by Robert Redford. y life is wonderful (1997), by Roberto Benigni. They all form part of the classics of cinema and international culture.
Robert De Niro’s visit
Robert De Niro’s visit last week came after he and his family traveled to Rome to receive The Capitoline Wolf, one of the actor’s greatest honors for the city. This award was handed down in a solemn gesture by the brother of Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, due to his Italian ancestry and outstanding career as a film director.
During a visit to the Vatican, the interpreter received a rosary from Pope Leon XIV. He is accompanied by his children, Leandro’s late mother, Drena, and Julian De Niro. Drena published the text on her Instagram account last Sunday, two days after her visit. “I may never find the words to discover the richness of my heart. My little Leo has given us so many signs of his constant presence throughout this journey. Every time his holiness approaches, I recede. It felt like it was leaving me in silence. I was scared and still held it over my head again,” I wrote next to a family photo of my actor daughter inside the Vatican. He continued, “I am filled with gratitude for being blessed here on earth in memory of Leo, in honor of all the young people and beautiful lives taken too soon.”
The death occurred in July 2023, when New York paramedics arrived at the scene and found the young man “unconscious and unresponsive.” An autopsy a month later confirmed that he had fentanyl, cocaine, and ketamine in his system. Five people were charged in connection with the overdose death of Leandro and a 19-year-old at the end of October last month. New York authorities have accused the suspects of running a fentanyl distribution network that sold counterfeit prescription opioid pills to teens and young adults in the city through social networks.
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