Pope Leo welcomes cinema stars to the Vatican

By creating an audience with Hollywood stars, Pope Leo called on actors and directors such as Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen and Monica Bellucci to continue their work as “voyagers of the imagination” by helping “bring hope.”

The celebrity gathering was a sprinkle of stardust for a still relatively new pope and a way for the Catholic Church to engage more with the afterlife.

This is also the case in the XIV century. It was a strong show of support for the global film industry, with Leo speaking out against the “troubling decline” in cinema-going.

The meeting, which director Spike Lee hailed as “a wonderful day”, was the first of its kind at the Vatican.

Speaking in Italian beneath the magnificent frescoes of the Clementine Hall, Pope Leo praised the power of cinema to entertain and educate and its “capacity to surprise.”

But he urged filmmakers not to shy away from what he called “the wounds of the world.”

“Violence, poverty, exile, loneliness, addiction and forgotten wars are issues that must be acknowledged and told,” the Pope said. “Good cinema does not exploit pain; it recognizes and explores it. This is what all great directors do.”

Six months after the conclave elected the first North American to the Pope, some Catholics say Leo has been slow to put his own stamp on the post.

His predecessor, Francis, a charismatic Argentinian He is known for his offhand comments and dramatic gestures. This star-studded engagement is a new look, as Leo’s style is much more muted.

It’s unclear how the cast list was compiled, but none of the directors from around the world in the room made it onto Pope’s own list of his best films.

This week, the Vatican revealed that its four favorite watches of all time include the 1960s nun-themed classic The Sound of Music, It’s a Wonderful Life and Italy’s Roberto Benigni’s multi-award-winning Life is Beautiful watch.

Among those in attendance for today’s A-list audience were Mortensen, Chris Pine, and filmmaker Gus Van Sant, of Milk and Good Will Hunting fame. The large Italian group included Gianni Amelio and Cinema Paradiso creator Giuseppe Tornatore.

At a time when there was intense pressure on the film, it wasn’t long before A big strike in Hollywood and with funding in short supply in Italy, the Pope spoke out in defense of the industry.

He was loudly applauded when he spoke of the “quiet dedication” of everyone who played vital roles behind the scenes.

He also warned against closing cinemas, which he described as the “beating heart of communities”.

“More than a few people say that the art of cinema and the cinematic experience are in danger. I call on institutions not to give up, but instead to cooperate in affirming the social and cultural value of this activity,” the Pope said. he said.

After fifteen minutes of speech and prayer, he received each listener in turn. blanchett.

“He really encouraged us to get back to our day jobs and inspire people,” the Australian-born star told reporters.

The actress, who works for UNHCR, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, was one of the many people who came with gifts and gave a woven bracelet to the Pope’s hand. “This was a bracelet I wore in solidarity with displaced people,” he later explained.

Lee gave the Chicago-born Pope a New York Knicks shirt bearing the number 14 and the words Papa Leo.