“Good cinema does not exploit pain; it recognizes and explores it.” – Pope Leo XIV
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV hosted a star-studded audience of cinema actors and directors in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall, signaling his support for the global film industry. Speaking in Italian, the Pope praised the “power of cinema to entertain and to educate – and for its capacity to amaze.” He urged filmmakers to confront societal issues: “Violence, poverty, exile, loneliness, addiction and forgotten wars are issues that need to be acknowledged and narrated. Good cinema does not exploit pain; it recognizes and explores it.”
Among those present were Viggo Mortensen, Chris Pine, Cate Blanchett, and directors Gus Van Sant, Gianni Amelio, and Giuseppe Tornatore. Hailed by Spike Lee as a “great day,” the gathering reflected the Pope’s quieter style, distinct from his predecessor. He also defended cinemas as the “beating heart of communities” and applauded behind-the-scenes workers, calling for institutions to affirm the social and cultural value of film.