Pope Leo meets director of one of his favorite movies

On December 4, Oscar-winning actor Roberto Benigni joyfully greeted Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, bringing with him excerpts from his new monologue Pietro, un uomo nel vento (Peter, A Man in the Wind) about the life of St. Peter. The private audience took place ahead of the television premiere on Italy’s Rai1.

Benigni showed the Pope scenes from the production (made with Vatican Media), and the Pontiff was visibly moved. After watching, Pope Leo -- himself an avid cinephile -- exclaimed “How beautiful, it speaks about love,” according to Vatican News. His warm praise reflected genuine admiration for Benigni’s heartfelt storytelling.

The title Peter, A Man in the Wind is rich in symbolism. Benigni portrays Peter – the humble fisherman chosen by Christ – as a “man in the wind,” evoking the Holy Spirit that later descended on the apostles. In the Gospel, Jesus breathes on his disciples like a wind (John 20:22) which calls back to Genesis, and Benigni’s poetic title alludes to this divine guidance in Peter’s life.

From denying Christ to becoming the “rock” of the Church, Peter’s journey is one of grace and redemption. By dramatizing it with humor and pathos, Benigni invites audiences to see the first pope as a very human man guided by faith.

The artist’s meeting with Pope Leo thus blended Scripture and cinema: as Vatican News notes, the two discussed “the life of St. Peter” in depth, along with Dante and Augustine. In doing so, Benigni tied together the Gospel story of Peter with the wisdom of Church tradition, showing how art can illuminate divine truths for our times.

The conversation between Benigni and Pope Leo ranged broadly over faith, literature, and film. They spoke of Dante’s Divine Comedy and St. Augustine’s Confessions, reflecting Benigni’s own passion for the classics. These references underscore how deeply the performer weaves cultural heritage into his work. Notably, they discussed Life Is Beautiful, Benigni’s Oscar-winning Holocaust comedy-drama.

If you remember, Pope Leo counted it among his four favorite films, echoing the admiration Pope John Paul II once showed for the movie. This film’s legacy is profound: it won three Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Benigni and Best Foreign Language Film.

More important are its themes of hope and love amid darkness. By blending laughter and tears, Benigni showed that even in life’s darkest chapters, love can triumph. The Pope and artist warmly affirmed this vision: the late-Francis himself has praised the film’s message of joy, and John Paul II -- who once hosted Benigni for a private screening -- famously said of Life Is Beautiful, “It makes you think… that not only in this concentration camp but in many others we can find saints." Clearly Benigni’s art has long ministered to souls by revealing light in darkness.

Benigni’s presence at the Vatican is not new. Over the past decades he has become a beloved figure in the Church’s life. In 1999 he visited Pope John Paul II to show Life Is Beautiful, where he was received with affection. More recently, in May 2024 Benigni gave the closing address at the first World Children’s Day in St. Peter’s Square. On that occasion – with Pope Francis presiding – he encouraged 50,000 children to “open your eyes, dream, and defeat dragons” with fairy tales.

Italian Catholic sources report he even joked with Francis and recited Dante to the crowd. These earlier encounters illustrate how naturally Benigni blends entertainment with evangelization. Each visit radiated joy: at Children’s Day, Benigni used his humor to teach peace and solidarity. Now, by bringing St. Peter’s story to Pope Leo, he once again bridges secular art and sacred narrative.

In the holy light of this meeting, we see how cinema and storytelling can evangelize, comfort, and inspire. As Pope Leo XIV reminded artists, film can carry viewers into “the complexity of their experiences” and help them rediscover essential hope. Benigni’s gift is precisely that: turning a fisherman’s life into an inspiring tale of faith.