On 15 November 2025 Pope Leo XIV welcomed a group of international filmmakers, actors and producers to the Apostolic Palace. Among the guests were Academy Award‑winner Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine, Monica Bellucci, Maria Grazia Cucinotta and director Spike Lee, who presented the pontiff with a custom New York Knicks jersey.
In his address, the Pope described cinema as “still a young, dreamlike and somewhat restless art form.” He recalled how the medium began as a play of light and shadow meant to amuse, but quickly grew into a vehicle for “much deeper realities.” Film, he said, expresses humanity’s desire to contemplate life, to recount its greatness and fragility, and to portray the longing for infinity.
Pope Leo XIV urged the artists to remember that when the “magic light of cinema illuminates the darkness, it simultaneously ignites the eyes of the soul.” He added that cinema combines entertainment with the spiritual adventure of the human person, helping audiences see their own lives with fresh eyes and rediscover the hope essential for a full life.
The Vatican also released a list of the pope’s favorite films, which includes The Sound of Music and Life Is Beautiful. He concluded with a note of comfort: “Cinema is not just moving pictures; it sets hope in motion.”