Pope hosts Hollywood stars at Vatican, laments decline in movie-going

Pope Leo addressed a gathering of prominent Hollywood actors and filmmakers at the Vatican on Saturday, expressing concern over the struggles facing cinemas and the need to safeguard the shared experience of watching films.

Among those in attendance were screen icons Cate Blanchett, Monica Bellucci, Chris Pine, and Oscar-winning director Spike Lee.

As the first pope from the United States, Leo described cinema as an essential "workshop of hope" in a time marked by global uncertainty and digital overload.

"Cinemas are facing a worrying decline, with many being phased out in cities and neighbourhoods," he remarked. "Many are concerned that the art of cinema and the communal experience it offers are at risk. I urge institutions to persist and work together to affirm the social and cultural value of this art form."

Box office sales in numerous countries are still struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels, with multiplexes in the United States and Canada enduring their worst summer since 1981, excluding the period of COVID-19 lockdowns.

Leo, marking the 130th anniversary of cinema this year, reflected on its evolution from a simple play of light and shadow into a medium capable of addressing the profoundest questions of humanity. "Cinema is not merely moving pictures; it sets hope in motion," he said, adding that entering a cinema was "like crossing a threshold" where the imagination expands, and even pain can take on new meaning.

He cautioned against a culture shaped by constant digital stimuli, warning that it might reduce stories to what algorithms predict will succeed. "The logic of algorithms tends to repeat what works, but art opens up possibilities," he said, calling on filmmakers to defend "slowness, silence, and difference" when they serve the narrative.

The pope also encouraged artists to confront difficult subjects such as violence, war, poverty, and loneliness with sincerity, noting that great cinema "does not exploit pain; it recognises and explores it."

He acknowledged not only the directors and actors but also the many behind-the-scenes professionals whose contributions make films possible, calling filmmaking "a collective endeavour in which no one is self-sufficient."

At the conclusion of his speech, the guests met the pope individually, with many offering gifts, including Spike Lee, who presented him with a New York Knicks basketball shirt emblazoned with "Pope Leo 14."

Ahead of the meeting, the Vatican shared four of the pope’s favourite films: Robert Wise’s family musical "The Sound of Music", Frank Capra’s feel-good "It’s a Wonderful Life", Robert Redford’s poignant "Ordinary People", and Roberto Benigni’s sentimental World War Two drama "Life Is Beautiful".

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