Vatican reveals the Pope’s favourite films – one is very dark | World | News
Ahead of a meeting between famous Hollywood celebrities and the Pope this weekend, the Vatican has released a statement sharing Pope Leo XIV’s favourite films.
The pontiff, the first American pope, is due to host a gathering that will reportedly include Cate Blanchett, Adam Scott, Chris Pine, Spike Lee, and George Miller.
In a statement announcing the meeting, the Vatican said Pope Leo’s favourite films include the 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life, The Sound of Music, Life Is Beautiful, and Ordinary People.
However, while the first three are rather wholesome and uplifting tales, the inclusion of Ordinary People has surprised some, given its darker themes.
The film, released in 1980, was the late Robert Redford’s directorial debut and follows a family coming to terms with the attempted suicide of one son and the death of another.
It stars Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland, and Mary Tyler Moore, and won four Oscars, including Best Picture. Set in the Pope’s home state of Illinois, its finale offers some hope before the closing credits.
Before the visit of Hollywood royalty, the Vatican said the pontiff “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.”
While the gathering this weekend will be a major one, it isn’t the first time Pope Leo has met Hollywood stars in his role. Earlier this year, he met Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in separate meetings.
Speaking to CNN about the experience, Robert said: “He’s a good guy. Let’s put it simply that way. I was very, very happy to meet him. And I was lucky to have two of my children meet him too, and we were all together.”
Pope Leo’s welcoming of Hollywood stars en masse to the Vatican comes just weeks after he offered his strongest criticism of President Donald Trump over the treatment of migrants in the USA.
Speaking to the press outside the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo, the pontiff said there were individuals living in the USA “for years and years, never causing problems, who have been deeply affected” by Trump’s hardline immigration policy.
Pope Leo’s criticism of Trump has surprised many, as the pontiff does not traditionally comment on a country’s specific internal policies.
Speaking to the BBC, Catholic historian Austen Ivereigh said that Pope Leo’s intervention would be a shock to people in the USA and to the Church itself, as many thought he would be radically different from his predecessor, Pope Francis.
He said: “I was struck by how direct his reference was because he’s obviously talking about the ICE round-ups. Now they’re waking up to the fact that Leo isn’t going to change Church teaching for their sake. They realise that he’s very different from Francis in his style, but it’s the same teaching and priorities. He’s very much a continuation.”
