When Al Pacino stepped into the Vatican this week to meet Pope Leo XIV, it wasn’t just a brush with papal prestige — it was a reminder of something deeper: the profound power of encounter.
The legendary actor, now 85, is in Italy filming Maserati: The Brothers, a star-studded movie about the iconic carmaker’s origins. But between scenes and studio sets, Pacino — accompanied by producer Andrea Iervolino — made time for something far more enduring than cinema: a personal meeting with the Holy Father.
Though the Vatican itself has remained discreet about the visit, which happens to be the first of a film star that has come to meet the new pontiff, Iervolino shared photos and reflections on social media, calling the meeting “a moment of deep spiritual and cultural inspiration,” centered on values both the Church and their film hope to convey: family, love, compassion, and contributing to the common good.
Connecting fragmented worlds
It’s easy to be a little cynical when the glittering world of Hollywood crosses the marble floors of the Vatican. But these moments — rare, symbolic, and deeply human — offer opportunities to connect our fragmented world with something transcendent.
Actors and artists are, in many ways, modern-day storytellers. They shape imagination, portray human struggle, and spark conversations. When those who hold influence encounter a spiritual leader like the Pope, it plants seeds: of reflection, of humility, of purpose.
In Pacino’s case, his cinematic legacy even includes a Vatican thread. His portrayal of Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part III brought viewers into the tangled relationship between power, corruption, and conscience with the film including a scandal between the mafia and the Vatican bank — of course the storyline was fictitious, but nonetheless the Church, like so many institutions, has to respond to various scandals in its history.
Celebrity with a conscience
But there’s another reason these papal meetings matter: they remind us that fame doesn’t replace faith, and celebrity doesn’t exempt one from searching for meaning. In fact, public figures — often burdened by scrutiny and solitude — may need spiritual grounding more than most.
Pope Francis understood this well. He invited artists to reflect on beauty, saw film as a medium for dialogue, and even appeared briefly in Beyond the Sun, a children’s movie also produced by Iervolino. Before his death, Francis had agreed to be part of a documentary exploring art and faith — a beautiful testament to how evangelization can happen even through a camera lens.
A message for the masses
When celebrities meet popes, it sends a message to millions watching from the sidelines: that no matter your status or stage in life, faith is always relevant. These moments of encounter can ripple outward, inspiring fans, followers, and film crews alike.
They remind us that, beneath the sunglasses and spotlights, there’s a soul. And in the heart of the Church, there’s always room for one more guest — no matter how famous.
