Hollywood Goes To Church: Pope Leo To Host Celebrity Guests At The Vatican

Pope Leo will host several Hollywood celebrities at the Vatican this weekend.

The first-ever American pope, elected as head of the Catholic Church in a May conclave, will host the group on November 15. 

The guest list includes Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett, “Severance” star Adam Scott, Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Lee, actor Chris Pine, director George Miller, director Gus Van Sant, actress Alison Brie, actor/filmmaker Dave Franco, “The Lord of the Rings” actor Viggo Mortensen, and “American History X” director Tony Kaye.

The pope “has expressed his desire to deepen dialogue with the world of cinema … exploring the possibilities that artistic creativity offers to the mission of the Church and the promotion of human values,” the Vatican said in a statement.

The event was coordinated by the Vatican’s culture office as part of the Catholic Church’s ongoing Holy Year.

The Vatican also noted several of Pope Leo’s favorite films in the statement. Those include “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), “The Sound of Music” (1965), “Ordinary People” (1980), and “Life Is Beautiful” (1997).

Papal events don’t usually include Hollywood celebrities, but it’s not an unprecedented move. The late Pope Francis hosted an event featuring famous comedians at the Vatican in June 2024. Guests included late-night hosts Conan O’Brien, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Fallon.

The pontiff also met with actor Robert DeNiro and his daughter, Drena, who lost her son in an accidental overdose, last weekend.

Pope Leo was born in Chicago, and according to one family member, he previously spent time doing two things that many Americans will instantly recognize. The pope’s brother, John Provost, said that the head of the Catholic Church enjoys playing Wordle and also watched the Academy Award-winning film, “Conclave.”

When Vice President JD Vance met the pope in May, he gifted him a custom Chicago Bears jersey with his name on it and the number “XIV.” Pope Leo responded to the gift by saying, “Good choice.”