Pope Leo delivered a powerful message to some of Hollywood’s biggest names on Saturday, warning that cinemas are in decline and calling for greater efforts to preserve the shared experience of moviegoing.
At a private Vatican audience, stars including Cate Blanchett, Monica Bellucci, Chris Pine and Viggo Mortensen joined acclaimed directors Spike Lee, Gus Van Sant and Sally Potter to hear the pontiff’s appeal. Leo, the first U.S. pope, described cinema as a vital “workshop of hope” in an era of global uncertainty and digital saturation.
“Cinemas are experiencing a troubling decline, with many disappearing from cities and neighbourhoods,” he said. “More than a few people are saying that the art of cinema and the cinematic experience are in danger. I urge institutions not to give up, but to cooperate in affirming the social and cultural value of this activity.”
His remarks come as box office revenues worldwide remain below pre-pandemic levels. Multiplexes in the United States and Canada endured their weakest summer since 1981, excluding the COVID shutdown.
Challenging the “Logic of Algorithms”
Marking cinema’s 130th anniversary, Leo reflected on its evolution from “a play of light and shadow” into a medium capable of exploring humanity’s deepest questions. He cautioned against a culture dominated by digital stimuli, where algorithms dictate which stories succeed.
“The logic of algorithms tends to repeat what works, but art opens up what is possible,” he said, urging filmmakers to defend “slowness, silence and difference” when these serve the story. Good cinema, he added, should confront violence, war, poverty and loneliness with honesty: “It does not exploit pain; it recognizes and explores it.”
Hollywood Responds
Cate Blanchett welcomed the pope’s words, calling them “a real charge not to shy away from difficult, painful stories.” She added: “He really urged us to go back into our day jobs and inspire people.”
Leo also praised the unseen workers behind the camera, describing filmmaking as “a collective endeavour in which no one is self-sufficient.”
After his speech, guests met the pope individually, many offering gifts. Spike Lee presented him with a New York Knicks basketball jersey emblazoned with “Pope Leo 14.” “It was a surprise to me that I even got an invitation,” Lee said. “I’ve been to Rome many, many times. But this was the first time in Vatican City and the first time meeting the pope. So it was… a great day, a great day.”
A Pope’s Favourite Films
Ahead of the gathering, the Vatican revealed four of Leo’s favourite movies: Robert Wise’s The Sound of Music, Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life, Robert Redford’s Ordinary People and Roberto Benigni’s Life Is Beautiful.
