On Saturday, November 15, 2025, the Vatican will roll out the red carpet for a unique gathering of cinematic and spiritual minds. Pope Leo XIV, the current leader of the Catholic Church, is hosting an event designed to "deepen dialogue with the World of Cinema," according to an official Vatican statement cited by CNN. The occasion, set to take place at the Apostolic Palace, will bring together acclaimed actors and directors, including Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine, Viggo Mortensen, Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Monica Bellucci, Spike Lee, George Miller, Gus Van Sant, Giuseppe Tornatore, and Gaspar Noé. The event aims to explore "the possibilities that artistic creativity offers to the mission of the Church and the promotion of human values."
The timing of this gathering is no coincidence. Just days before the event, Pope Leo XIV made headlines by revealing his four favorite films in a video shared by Variety and confirmed in statements from the Vatican and multiple major outlets, including NewsNation and The Guardian. The Pope’s cinematic taste, as it turns out, leans heavily toward emotionally charged classics from the 20th century—movies that are as likely to inspire tears as they are to provoke reflection.
So, what makes the Pope’s list? According to the Vatican’s official statement and reports from NewsNation, CNN, and The Guardian, these are the four films that have captured the heart of Pope Leo XIV:
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), directed by Frank Capra, is the oldest on the list. The film stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man on the brink of despair who is shown by an angel how much his life has meant to others. The movie is a holiday staple, often described as the ultimate “what if I didn’t exist?” story. As one columnist for WROR humorously put it, "It’s a Wonderful Life — the ultimate ‘what if I didn’t exist?’ movie that makes you cry and then immediately hug your dog." The film’s message of hope and the value of every individual resonates deeply, and its Catholic undertones—Capra himself was Catholic, and the fictional town’s main church is St Peter and Paul Catholic Church—make it a fitting choice for the pontiff.
Next on the list is The Sound of Music (1965), the beloved musical directed by Robert Wise. The story follows Maria, played by Julie Andrews, a young nun-in-training who becomes governess to the seven von Trapp children in Austria, just before the Nazi annexation. The film is famous for its sweeping landscapes, unforgettable songs, and its depiction of resilience in the face of tyranny. As The Guardian notes, "Perhaps, as Catholic leader, he savoured the historical paradox in that film: Austrian nuns who were anti-Nazi? Wow. Interesting." The movie’s blend of faith, family, and resistance to oppression likely holds special significance for Pope Leo XIV.
The third title, Ordinary People (1980), directed by Robert Redford, is perhaps the most surprising. This quietly devastating drama explores a family’s struggle with grief, guilt, and emotional healing after the loss of a son. According to WROR, "Ordinary People. A quiet, devastating film about a family shattered by tragedy and stitched together by therapy sessions and tearful silences." The film’s exploration of therapy and emotional vulnerability stands out as a more secular, yet deeply human, meditation on suffering and reconciliation—a theme not unfamiliar to the Church’s teachings.
Rounding out the list is Life Is Beautiful (1997), the Oscar-winning Italian film by Roberto Benigni. The movie tells the story of a Jewish father who uses humor, imagination, and love to shield his son from the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp during the Holocaust. CNN describes it as a film that "explores themes of love and hope amid the Nazi Holocaust," while The Guardian offers a more critical take, calling it "overbearingly sugary" and "existentially dishonest" in its comedic approach to such a tragic subject. Nonetheless, the story’s message—that even in the darkest times, hope and humanity can prevail—clearly struck a chord with the Pope. As NewsNation summarizes from IMDB, Benigni’s character “uses a perfect mixture of will, humor and imagination to protect his son from the dangers around their camp.”
The announcement of these favorites has sparked both admiration and debate. Some commentators, like those at The Guardian, have contrasted Pope Leo XIV’s “trad” (traditional) selections with the more art-house preferences of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who cited post-World War II Italian classics such as La Strada and Rome, Open City. Others, like the WROR columnist, find the Pope’s taste refreshingly relatable, noting, "So sure, the Pope is the leader of the Catholic Church. But now we know he’s also just a guy who likes to rot on the couch and cry at beautiful movies. Which honestly? Makes him even holier in my book."
But the Pope’s choices are more than just a matter of personal taste. According to the Vatican, this curated list is part of a broader initiative to foster a richer dialogue between the Church and the arts. The upcoming event, which will include conversations with some of the world’s most influential filmmakers and actors, is intended to explore how cinema can contribute to the Church’s mission and the promotion of universal human values. As the Vatican’s statement puts it, the gathering is about "exploring the possibilities that artistic creativity offers to the mission of the Church and the promotion of human values."
The invitation list underscores the seriousness of this mission. Cate Blanchett, a two-time Oscar winner; Spike Lee, known for his socially conscious films; George Miller, the mind behind the "Mad Max" franchise; Gus Van Sant, celebrated for his work on the margins of American society; and Giuseppe Tornatore, director of the beloved Italian film Cinema Paradiso, are all expected to attend. Their presence signals a willingness on the Vatican’s part to engage with a wide spectrum of cinematic voices, from mainstream to avant-garde.
This isn’t the first time the Vatican has sought to engage with the arts. As The Guardian notes, "part of a longstanding Vatican policy of engaging with creatives," the Church has historically recognized the power of art—from Michelangelo’s frescoes to the films of today—to inspire, challenge, and unite people across cultures and beliefs. Pope Leo XIV’s initiative, however, feels particularly timely in a world where stories—on screen and off—shape our understanding of morality, empathy, and hope.
Of course, not everyone agrees with every choice on the Pope’s list. Life Is Beautiful, for instance, has its detractors, some of whom see its comedic approach to the Holocaust as "jarring and existentially dishonest," especially given the Church’s own complicated history with the Nazi regime. Others, however, view the film as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a quality that aligns with the Church’s message of hope in the face of suffering.
As the Vatican prepares to welcome the luminaries of the silver screen, one thing is clear: Pope Leo XIV’s favorite films, with their themes of redemption, love, loss, and hope, are more than just personal picks. They are an invitation—to filmmakers, believers, and movie lovers everywhere—to join in a conversation about the role of art in shaping a more compassionate and humane world.
With the world watching, the intersection of faith and film promises to offer fresh perspectives on the stories we tell—and the values we hold dear.
