Bob Dylan had an unexpected meeting with Pope Leo XIV this week, and the two exchanged rather personal gifts during their encounter at the Vatican.
The 85-year-old music legend was received by the pontiff at the Apostolic Palace on Wednesday, November 4, while visiting Rome during the latest leg of his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour.
According to Vatican News, Pope Leo presented Dylan with a rosary, while the singer-songwriter gave the pontiff a copy of his autobiography, Chronicles: Volume One.
Dylan, whose real name is Robert Allen Zimmerman, kept his appearance understated, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt for the private audience. The meeting was brief, consisting of greetings and a few lighthearted exchanges.
The encounter was also notable because the Pope had previously referenced Dylan’s work in a publication about peace and disarmament.
In July 2026, Pope Leo cited Dylan’s 1963 anti-nuclear composition, “Go Away You Bomb,” in the preface to a book titled Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift, published by the Vatican Publishing House.
The composition was written during the Cold War, when fears surrounding nuclear weapons were widespread. Interestingly, the piece was never officially recorded or released on one of Dylan’s music albums. Its original manuscript was discovered in 2013, according to Vatican News.
The Pope’s reference to the composition highlighted Dylan’s longstanding connection to music addressing war, peace and social issues.
Wednesday’s meeting was not Dylan’s first encounter with a pontiff. In 1997, the singer performed before Pope John Paul II during the 23rd National Eucharistic Congress in Bologna, Italy.
According to Vatican News, Dylan performed three songs, including his classic “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” before greeting the late Pope onstage.
John Paul II also referenced Dylan’s famous song “Blowin’ in the Wind” during his address to young people attending the gathering.
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