Overview
- Addressing filmmakers in the Sala Clementina on Nov. 15, Pope Leo XIV warned of a worrying erosion of cinemas and pressed institutions and governments to safeguard the theatrical experience.
- He described film as a medium that can probe deep spiritual questions, urging artists to confront violence, poverty and loneliness without exploiting pain.
- The Pope criticized recommendation algorithms for narrowing stories and encouraged creators to value slowness, silence and difference when these serve the work.
- He linked his appeal to industry headwinds, noting that North American multiplexes had their weakest summer since 1981 outside pandemic shutdowns and pointing to cinema’s approaching 130th anniversary.
- The audience drew figures including Cate Blanchett, Spike Lee, Viggo Mortensen and Monica Bellucci, featured personal exchanges such as a gifted basketball jersey, and concluded with the Vatican sharing four favorites: The Sound of Music, It’s a Wonderful Life, Ordinary People and Life Is Beautiful.