Pope Leo welcomes cinema stars to the Vatican

[ad_1] Sarah Rainsford Southern and Jap Europe correspondent, Rome

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/30ea/live/86c877c0-c237-11f0-ae46-bd64331f0fd4.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/30ea/live/86c877c0-c237-11f0-ae46-bd64331f0fd4.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/30ea/live/86c877c0-c237-11f0-ae46-bd64331f0fd4.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/30ea/live/86c877c0-c237-11f0-ae46-bd64331f0fd4.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/30ea/live/86c877c0-c237-11f0-ae46-bd64331f0fd4.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/30ea/live/86c877c0-c237-11f0-ae46-bd64331f0fd4.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/30ea/live/86c877c0-c237-11f0-ae46-bd64331f0fd4.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/30ea/live/86c877c0-c237-11f0-ae46-bd64331f0fd4.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters Pope Leo XIV meets with actor Cate Blanchett, during an audience with artists from the world of cinema in the Sala Clementina at the Vatican. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Reuters Pope Leo has held an viewers with Hollywood stars, urging actors and administrators together with Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen and Monica Bellucci to proceed their work as "pilgrims of the creativeness", serving to to "convey hope".

The superstar assembly was a sprinkling of star mud for a nonetheless comparatively new pope and a means for the Catholic Church to interact extra with the world past.

It was additionally a powerful present of assist from Leo XIV for the worldwide movie trade, as he spoke out towards the "troubling decline" in cinema-going.

Hailed by director Spike Lee as a "nice day", the gathering was the primary of its sort within the Vatican.

Beneath the magnificent frescoes of the Clementine Corridor, Pope Leo spoke in Italian to reward the ability of cinema to entertain and to teach – and for its "capability to amaze".

However he urged filmmakers to not draw back from what he known as "the world's wounds".

"Violence, poverty, exile, loneliness, dependancy and forgotten wars are points that have to be acknowledged and narrated," the Pope stated. "Good cinema doesn't exploit ache; it acknowledges and explores it. That is what all the good administrators have executed."

Six months since a conclave of cardinals elected the primary North American to the Papacy, some Catholics really feel that Leo has been sluggish to stamp his personal mark on the function.

His predecessor, Francis, was a charismatic Argentinian identified for his off-the-cuff feedback and dramatic gestures. Leo's model is way quieter, so this star-studded engagement is a brand new look.

Watch: Among the many stars to fulfill the Pope was Spike Lee who had a novel present for Leo XIV.

It is not clear how the solid record was drawn up, though not one of the administrators within the corridor – who got here from everywhere in the world – made it onto the Pope's personal high movie record.

This week, the Vatican revealed that his favorite 4 watches of all time included the Nineteen Sixties nun-themed basic The Sound of Music, It is a Great Life and Italian Roberto Benigni's multi award-winning Life is Lovely.

Amongst those that did be a part of in the present day's A-list viewers have been Mortensen, Chris Pine and filmmaker Gus Van Sant – of Milk and Good Will Searching fame. The big Italian contingent included Gianni Amelio and Cinema Paradiso creator, Giuseppe Tornatore.

At a time of immense stress on movie, not lengthy after a significant Hollywood strike and with funding strains right here in Italy, the Pope spoke in defence of the trade.

He was applauded loudly when he talked of the "quiet dedication" of all these behind the scenes with very important roles.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/232a/live/32487860-c239-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/232a/live/32487860-c239-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/232a/live/32487860-c239-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/232a/live/32487860-c239-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/232a/live/32487860-c239-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/232a/live/32487860-c239-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/232a/live/32487860-c239-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/232a/live/32487860-c239-11f0-8456-eff94716b162.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters Pope Leo sits for a picture on the day of an audience with international filmmakers and actors, including Cate Blanchett, Spike Lee, Monica Bellucci, Viggo Mortensen and Gus Van Sant, in the Sala Clementina at the Vatican. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Reuters The viewers for the worldwide filmmakers was held beneath the magnificent frescoes of the Clementine Corridor

He additionally warned towards the closure of cinemas which he characterised because the "beating coronary heart of communities".

"Quite a lot of persons are saying that the artwork of cinema and the cinematic expertise are at risk. I urge establishments not to surrender, however to cooperate in affirming the social and cultural worth of this exercise," the Pope stated.

After a fifteen-minute speech and a blessing he then acquired every viewers member in flip, led by Blanchett.

"He actually urged us to return into our day jobs and encourage folks," the Australian-born star instructed reporters.

One among many who got here bearing presents, the actress – who works with the UN refugee company, UNHCR – positioned a woven bracelet within the Pope's hand. "It was a bracelet I put on in solidarity with people who find themselves displaced," she defined later.