Pope Francis: The Pontiff Who Brought Hollywood to the Vatican

Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at age 88, will be remembered not just as a spiritual leader but also as the pope who gave Hollywood stars a fast pass to the Vatican. Over his 12-year tenure as head of the Catholic Church, he managed to connect faith, fame, and a surprising amount of Instagram-worthy moments.

Among those who met Pope Francis was Leonardo DiCaprio, who visited him in 2016 while filming his environmental documentary "Before the Flood." DiCaprio came bearing a book that once hung above his crib—because why not bring a baby gift to the Pope? The two chatted about environmental issues, sharing a mutual respect for the planet, before Leo kissed the papal ring and called the moment "profound."

In May 2016, George and Amal Clooney joined the Vatican guest list at the "Un Muro o Un Ponte" event. George Clooney wasn’t just another face in the crowd—he was presented with the Olive Medal of Peace for his work with Scholas Occurrentes, the Pope’s own arts foundation. Not every day you get a peace medal from the Pope and a selfie with Amal in the same afternoon.

Angelina Jolie had her own private audience in January 2015, when she screened her film "Unbroken" at the Vatican. It seems Jolie’s directorial efforts really do reach celestial heights.

Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom made their way to the Paul VI Hall in 2018 for the Unite To Cure conference, snapping photos and sharing their gratitude for the Pope’s "compassionate heart and inclusivity." Bloom posted a shot from behind, insisting all eyes were on His Holiness—though let’s be real, half the room was probably sneaking glances at the pop power couple.

Richard Gere and wife Alejandra Silva also received the Olive Medal of Peace in 2016 and signed on as ambassadors for Scholas Occurrentes, working to connect schools worldwide. Gere’s transformation from American Gigolo to global peace ambassador is one for the books.

Bono, U2’s frontman and a serial Vatican visitor, had his first private audience with Pope Francis in 2018, chatting for half an hour about everything from religion to, presumably, music. They reunited in 2022 for the launch of the Scholas Occurrentes International Movement, proving the Pope could rival any world tour itinerary.

In June 2024, Chris Rock, along with 100 comedians including Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, were invited by Pope Francis to highlight the importance of comedy in society. The Pope praised comedians for bringing smiles and calling out abuses of power, reminding them that making people laugh is basically a divine calling.

Antonio Banderas managed a quick chat with the Pope in April 2016, squeezing it in before filming in Rome. Banderas posted about the "nice chat"—because if you don’t post about meeting the Pope, did it even happen?

Arnold Schwarzenegger got his handshake and chat during a General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, calling it an honor and lauding the Pope as a "true leader for the Church & a steward for all of God's creatures." Schwarzenegger meeting the Pope almost sounds like the start of a joke, but it’s just another day at the Vatican.

And let’s not forget Mark Wahlberg, who served as master of ceremonies during the Pope’s 2015 visit to Philadelphia. Wahlberg later admitted he was "terrified" to be hosting with the Pope in the audience—a relatable reaction, even for a Hollywood heavyweight.

Through all these encounters, Pope Francis showed an openness to engaging with pop culture, using his platform to draw attention to global issues—and, intentionally or not, racking up an A-list contact list that would make any manager jealous. If there’s a red carpet in the afterlife, you know who’s getting front row.