A Papal Defense of the Silver Screen: Pope Leo Urges Hollywood to Save Cinemas as ‘Workshops of Hope’
In a remarkable convergence of faith and film, Pope Leo XV addressed an intimate gathering of Hollywood’s elite this weekend, issuing a powerful plea to protect the endangered experience of communal cinema. Before an audience that included stars like Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine, and Viggo Mortensen, and directors Spike Lee and Gus Van Sant, the first U.S. pope described movie theaters as a vital “workshop of hope” in an age of digital isolation and global anxiety. He sounded an alarm over the troubling decline of cinemas being shuttered in cities and neighborhoods, urging cultural institutions not to surrender but to cooperate in preserving the social and cultural value of watching stories unfold together on the big screen.
The pontiff challenged the artists to use their craft to confront the world’s deepest wounds—violence, war, poverty, and loneliness—with honesty and purpose, arguing that great cinema should explore pain rather than exploit it. His call to artistic courage resonated deeply; Cate Blanchett described his words as a “real charge” to not shy away from difficult narratives. The historic audience concluded on a personal note, with the A-list attendees meeting the pope one-by-one. In a gesture that bridged the Vatican and pop culture, Spike Lee gifted the pontiff a New York Knicks jersey customised with “Pope Leo” and the number 14, a fitting symbol for a pope who is proving to be a passionate and unexpected champion for the art of cinema.
