The Vatican welcomed an unexpected mix of Hollywood and holiness this week when Pope Leo XIV hosted more than 100 actors, directors, and producers inside the Apostolic Palace — and even left with a custom New York Knicks jersey.
The 70-year-old pontiff’s private audience included a star-studded guest list, with Cate Blanchett,Alison Brie, Judd Apatow, and Viggo Mortensen among those in attendance. Italian film legends Monica Bellucci, Dario Argento, and Matteo Garrone also joined the event, where the Pope personally greeted each visitor.
Spike Lee just gave the Pope a Knicks jersey at the Vatican pic.twitter.com/kjse2k4fB2
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) November 15, 2025Spike Lee, a lifelong Knicks fan, surprised the Pope with a personalized basketball jersey bearing the number 14 — a nod to Pope Leo being the 14th to hold the name — and “Pope Leo” printed across the back. Per Daily Mail, Lee noted the connection between the team and Villanova University, where the former Cardinal Robert Prevost once studied.
? SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox ?
Blanchett described the Pope’s words as moving and deeply relevant. “His words were extraordinary and I wish cultural ministers around the world would take heed,” she told reporters after the meeting, per the outlet. “He talked about compassion and leaning into the problems of the world.”
Pope Leo reflected on cinema’s power to illuminate and inspire. “When the magic light of cinema illuminates the darkness, it simultaneously ignites the eyes of the soul,” he said. The pontiff praised filmmakers as “narrators of hope and heralds of humanity,” urging them to use storytelling to confront global suffering and reveal empathy through art.
Earlier this week, Pope Leo also gave film fans a glimpse into his personal taste in cinema — and his selections are quite surprising. In an interview with Variety, the Pope named his four favorite movies: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), The Sound of Music (1965), Ordinary People (1980), and La Vita è Bella (Life Is Beautiful, 1997). While the first three are timeless classics known for their uplifting themes, many were surprised by his inclusion of Ordinary People, a drama about grief, guilt, and healing after loss.
Hence then, the article about pope leo xiv hosts a surprise group of a list stars at the vatican was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Pope Leo XIV Hosts a Surprise Group of A-List Stars at the Vatican )
Also on site :
- PIN Stockholder Alert: Shareholder Rights Law Firm Robbins LLP Reminds Investors of the Class Action Lawsuit Against Pinterest, Inc.
- Sheena Easton, 66, Is Still a Stunning Redhead Several Years After Leaving the Chaos of Mega-Fame Behind
- ‘Murphy Brown’ Star Jessie Jones Dead at 75