Pope Leo called on global institutions to do more to save cinemas, telling top Hollywood actors and filmmakers during a private Vatican audience that movie theaters are struggling to survive. Among the guests were Cate Blanchett, Monica Bellucci, Chris Pine, Viggo Mortensen, and directors Spike Lee, Gus Van Sant, and Sally Potter.
He described cinema as a crucial “workshop of hope” during a time of uncertainty and digital overload. “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,” he said.
With box office revenues still below pre-pandemic levels and many theaters shutting down, Leo stressed the cultural loss caused by declining cinema attendance. He said films have the power to explore humanity’s deepest questions and offer meaning, adding, “Cinema is not just moving pictures; it sets hope in motion.”
He warned that algorithm-driven digital culture risks diluting storytelling. “The logic of algorithms tends to repeat what works, but art opens up what is possible,” he said, urging filmmakers to champion “slowness, silence and difference” when needed.
The pope encouraged artists to confront hard truths such as war, poverty, and loneliness, saying good cinema “does not exploit pain; it recognizes and explores it.” Blanchett said his message was inspiring, calling it “a real charge not to shy away from difficult, painful stories.”
Leo also honored the behind-the-scenes workers who make films possible, calling filmmaking “a collective endeavor in which no one is self-sufficient.” After the audience, guests met the pope individually, with Spike Lee gifting him a New York Knicks jersey labeled “Pope Leo 14.”
The Vatican also released a list of the pope’s favorite films: The Sound of Music, It’s a Wonderful Life, Ordinary People, and Life Is Beautiful.