Pope Leo XIV meets Spike Lee during an audience with film directors at the Vatican on Saturday, November 15, 2025.Image: keystone
Pope Leo XIV welcomed film stars such as Cate Blanchett, Monica Bellucci and Viggo Mortensen to the Vatican on Saturday.
November 15, 2025, 8:41 p.mNovember 16, 2025, 2:49 p.m
US filmmaker Spike Lee, who is known as a big basketball fan, presented the head of the Catholic Church with a personalized jersey from his favorite team, the New York Knicks, at the audience in the Apostolic Palace. Above a large 14 is the English inscription “Pope Leo”.
Among the more than a hundred filmmakers invited by the Vatican were directors Gus Van Sant and Judd Apatow as well as actress Alison Brie from the USA and filmmakers Dario Argento and Matteo Garrone from Italy.
In his address, Pope Leo Movies could help audiences “think about their own lives, see the complexity of their own experiences with new eyes and look at the world as if for the first time.” In this way, people could once again gain the hope that is essential for a “fulfilled life”.
Oscar winner Blanchett thanked the Pope for his “extraordinary” words. “I wish culture ministers around the world would take them to heart,” said the Australian actress after the audience. (sda/afp)