In church, it’s the holy trinity. But on the silver screen, it’s all about the big four for Pope Leo<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Catholic bishop<\/a> (real name: Robert Francis Prevost<\/a>) dished on his all-time favorite movies during a video interview with Variety<\/a> released Tuesday, Nov. 11.<\/p>\n First on the list for the Chicago-born pontiff was “It’s a Wonderful Life,”<\/a> the 1946 Christmas classic starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore.<\/p>\n Tapping his musical side, Pope Leo, 70, also gave a shout-out to “The Sound of Music,”<\/a> the Oscar-winning family drama fronted by actress and Broadway legend Julie Andrews<\/a>, Christopher Plummer<\/a> and Eleanor Parker<\/a>.<\/p>\n It’s not all feel-good flicks for the pope though. “Ordinary People,” the 1980 psychological drama starring Donald Sutherland<\/a> and Mary Tyler Moore<\/a>, made the cut, too.<\/p>\n In perhaps a nod to his Italian heritage, “La Vita \u00e8 Bella” (“Life is Beautiful”), the Italian-language period drama starring and directed by Roberto Benigni, rounded out Pope Leo’s favorite movies.<\/p>\n Who is Robert Francis Prevost? <\/strong>What to know about newly elected Pope Leo XIV<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Pope Leo’s movie talk comes as the bishop is expected to host some of Hollywood’s finest<\/a> at the Vatican later this week.<\/p>\n The pope is scheduled to meet with a slew of A-list actors and directors on Saturday, Nov. 15, as part of the Catholic Church’s ongoing\u00a0Holy Year. Invitees include “Blue Jasmine” Oscar winner\u00a0Cate Blanchett<\/a>, “Severance”<\/a> star\u00a0Adam Scott<\/a>, Oscar-winning filmmaker\u00a0Spike Lee<\/a>,\u00a0Chris Pine<\/a>, “Mad Max”<\/a> saga director\u00a0George Miller<\/a>\u00a0and actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pope Leo XIV presides over a mass for the 125th anniversary of the Dedication of the Church of Sant’Anselmo on the Aventine Hill in Rome on Nov. 11, 2025.<\/p>\n Pope Leo goes Hollywood: <\/strong>Pontiff announces his first celebrity event at the Vatican<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n It’s rare for the pope to host Hollywood celebrities. His predecessor,\u00a0Pope Francis,<\/a> hosted comedians\u00a0including Conan O’Brien<\/a>, Stephen Colbert<\/a>, Jimmy Fallon<\/a>, Whoopi Goldberg<\/a> and Chris Rock<\/a> in June 2024.<\/p>\n The pope “has expressed his desire to deepen dialogue with the world of cinema … exploring the possibilities that artistic creativity offers to the mission of the Church and the promotion of human values,” the Vatican said in a statement Monday.<\/p>\n Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY; Joshua McElwee, Reuters<\/p>\n This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pope Leo reveals his all-time favorite movies<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nPope Leo announces his first celebrity event at the Vatican<\/h2>\n
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