Overview
- About three dozen actors and directors are invited, including Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine, Adam Scott, Viggo Mortensen, Spike Lee, George Miller, Gus Van Sant, Joanna Hogg, Tony Kaye and Julie Taymor.
- Saturday’s audience is organized by the Vatican’s culture office as part of the Church’s ongoing Holy Year program.
- Pope Leo has signaled interest in how artistic creativity can support human values and the Church’s outreach.
- The Vatican highlighted four of the pope’s favorite films: It’s a Wonderful Life, The Sound of Music, Ordinary People and Life Is Beautiful.
- Such entertainment-focused audiences are uncommon, with recent precedent in a June 2024 Vatican event that brought together comedians.