The Pope met with Roberto Benigni before the premiere of Peter's Monologue.

Pope Leo XIV received Oscar-winning Italian actor and director Roberto Benigni on Thursday afternoon at the Apostolic Palace, together with Italian state TV CEOs and producers.

According to a note released on Telegram by the Holy See Press Office, the visit took place ahead of theRai 1broadcast of“Peter: A Man in the Wind,”a monologue by Benigni produced in collaboration with Vatican Media and presented earlier in the day at the MAXXI Museum in Rome.

The Pope watched several excerpts from the production and remarked, “How beautiful, it speaks about love.”

Before the screening, he and Benigni spoke about cinema, including Benigni's own Oscar-winning filmLife Is Beautifuland Frank Capra’sIt’s a Wonderful Life,both of which the Pope has named among his four favourite films.

Their conversation extended to themes central to the monologue: the life of Saint Peter, the works of Dante and Saint Augustine, theDivine Comedy, and theConfessions.

Also attending the meeting were Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication; Stefano D’Agostini, Director of Vatican Media; and members of Benigni’s creative team.