Actor Al Pacino recently had a private audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. The meeting, which took place on June 17, 2025, was documented in photos shared by Italian film producer Andrea Iervolino. Pacino and Iervolino are working on a film about the Maserati automobile brand and presented the Pope with a miniature model. The Holy See Press Office has not yet released an official statement regarding the meeting.
12 days ago
On June 17, 2025, actor Al Pacino met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican 1 2 4. The private audience marked the first officially reported meeting between the Pope and a major film star since his election 1. Photos of the meeting, showing Pacino, producer Andrea Iervolino, and Pope Leo XIV, were shared on social media 2 4.
The meeting was arranged in connection with Pacino's latest film project, "Maserati: The Brothers," which is currently in production in Italy 1 2 4. Pacino plays Vincenzo Vaccaro, a financier who supported the Maserati business 1. During the audience, Pacino and Iervolino presented Pope Leo XIV with a miniature model of a Maserati vehicle 2 4.
The conversation during the meeting centered on core human values that unite the Catholic tradition and the cinematic portrayal of the Maserati family 1. These values include fidelity, compassion, and a commitment to the common good 1 2 4. Iervolino stated that the film and the Church share values such as family unity, love, and the importance of contributing to the common good 1 2 4. Pope Leo's message about rebuilding the human community through shared responsibility and respect resonated with the film's story 1.
Vatican watchers have noted that the meeting reflects Pope Leo XIV’s openness to engaging with the arts and contemporary culture 1. The meeting also illustrates the Pope’s ongoing effort to harness storytelling as a vehicle for evangelization and social reflection 1. This encounter adds to Pope Leo’s emerging papal identity as a bridge-builder between nations, faiths, the sacred, and the secular 1. However, the Holy See Press Office has not issued an official statement about the meeting 2 4.
How does the Church view art's evangelizing role?
The Catholic Church sees art as a powerful tool for evangelization and catechesis . It recognizes art's ability to communicate the Gospel message in a way that transcends words, reaching people of different cultures and religions .
Here's a breakdown of the Church's perspective:
In summary, the Church views art as a vital means of evangelization, capable of communicating the Gospel message in profound and meaningful ways. It calls upon artists to use their talents to reflect God's beauty, inspire faith, and enrich the Church's liturgical life .