As “part of the Vatican’s
efforts to reach out beyond the Catholic Church to engage with the secular
world,” Pope Leo spoke with actors and directors on November 15, 2025 about the
ability of film “to inspire and unite.”[1]
He spoke to the filmmakers about film itself as an art, and what it can do
socially. What it can do in a distinctively religious sense was oddly left out.
I submit that leaving out how film can contribute to spirituality wherein a transcendent
is explicitly included while stressing the social functions of film not only
limits the potential of film, but also ironically marginalizes a significant potential
of film.
The full essay is at "Pope Leo on the Cinema."
1. Nicole Winfield, “Pope Leo XIV Celebrates Cinema with Hollywood Stars and Urges Inclusion of Marginal Voices,” APNews.com, November 15, 2025.
