Pope Leo will welcome a star-studded group of actors and filmmakers to the Vatican this weekend. Several Hollywood figures are scheduled to visit the Apostolic Palace on Saturday, where the Chicago-born pontiff will host them for a special audience called the World of Cinema.
“In this Jubilee Year, Pope Leo XIV has expressed his desire to deepen dialogue with the world of cinema — in particular with actors and directors — exploring the possibilities that artistic creativity offers to the mission of the Church and the promotion of human values,” the Vatican said in a press release.
In addition to Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett, known for her performance in “Blue Jasmine,” and Star Trek actor Chris Pine, the guest list includes Adam Scott from “Severance,” as well as Monica Bellucci, Viggo Mortensen, Alison Brie and Dave Franco.
Among filmmakers expected to attend are Spike Lee, George Miller, Giuseppe Tornatore and Gus Van Sant, according to the Vatican’s announcement.
The gathering with actors could be viewed as part of a “triptych” of cultural encounters, said Chris White, author of "Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy," in an email.
Two years ago, Pope Francis met with a group of international artists in the Sistine Chapel. In 2024, he invited over 100 comedians such as Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, Chris Rock and Whoopi Goldberg for a similar gathering.
“It’s all part of a concerted effort by the Vatican to stay fully engaged in culture,” White said. “That’s why there’s been no litmus test for the kinds of artists invited to these encounters,” he added, noting that even controversial artists have been included.
The comedians’ meeting also featured performers who have openly mocked religion.
“Leo continues that same tradition of dialogue and building goodwill and common cause,” White said.
Earlier this month, Pope Leo also met privately with actor Robert De Niro and his children, signaling a continued effort to engage with artists and entertainers who shape culture worldwide.
As part of this weekend’s announcement, the pope shared four of his personal favorite films: “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), “The Sound of Music” (1965), “Ordinary People” (1980) and “Life Is Beautiful” (1997), directed by Roberto Benigni.
In recent years, films featuring Catholic characters, settings and themes have sparked both praise and controversy. Movies such as “Cabrini” (2024), centered on the Italian-American missionary nun Francesca Cabrini, were lauded for spotlighting an overlooked figure of faith. Meanwhile, “Conclave” (2024), a thriller set inside the Vatican during a papal election, earned strong reviews, but also provoked backlash among some Catholics, who criticized its depiction of clerical politics and a controversial plot twist involving an intersex pope.
That complex relationship between Hollywood and American Catholicism stretches back nearly a century, said Colleen McDannell, professor of history and religious studies at the University of Utah and editor of the book “Catholics in the Movies.”
In the 1930s, the American film industry was largely shaped by the “production code,” constructed by Jesuit priest Daniel Lord, McDannell said.
“There was a lot of influence from the Catholic Church on how movies appeared — for instance, the code stipulated that you could not make fun of religious people.”
That influence waned in the 1960s as the code gave way to the modern movie rating system and a new legal framework emphasizing free speech.
“What the pope is trying to do now is build a positive relationship, rather than a controlling one, with Hollywood,” McDannell said. “Religion can’t dictate what comes out of Hollywood anymore. The question becomes: how can you explore serious moral and human issues through visual storytelling?”
With the past two popes, she added, there’s been an effort to take seriously the challenges of modern life.
“They’re not thinking, ‘Let’s go backward,’ but rather asking: Where do people get their values? How do they think about big issues? And one place they do that is through Hollywood.”