Spike Lee presented Pope Leo XIV with a New York Knicks jersey on Saturday during a gathering at the Vatican that brought together more than 100 filmmakers, including actors, directors, and producers.
Gatekeepers News reports that Cate Blanchett, Alison Brie, Judd Apatow, Viggo Mortensen, and prominent Italian figures, including Monica Bellucci and Dario Argento, were among those welcomed inside the Apostolic Palace.
Blanchett said afterward, “His words were extraordinary and I wish cultural ministers around the world would take heed. He talked about compassion and leaning into the problems of the world.”
Lee, a lifelong Knicks supporter, gave the pontiff a jersey bearing the number 14 and the name “Pope Leo,” noting that the team currently features three former Villanova University players, the same school attended by the former Robert Prevost.
Addressing the gathering, Pope Leo said that “when the magic light of cinema illuminates the darkness, it simultaneously ignites the eyes of the soul,” adding that great films help viewers reflect on their lives and recover a sense of hope.
The Vatican had explained earlier in the week that the event was meant to explore how artistic creativity can support the Church’s mission and promote human values.
Ahead of the audience, Leo shared his four favourite films, all centred on themes of hope, including “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “The Sound of Music,” “Ordinary People,” and Roberto Benigni’s “Life Is Beautiful.”
He described filmmakers as “pilgrims of the imagination” and “narrators of hope and heralds of humanity,” urging them not to shy away from portraying the world’s suffering.
