Skip to content

PHOTOS: ‘Life is Beautiful’ actor Roberto Benigni meets the pope

Pope Francis enthusiastically greeted Italian actor and comedian Roberto Benigni at the Vatican on Wednesday morning.

Benigni, best known for his Oscar-winning film “Life is Beautiful,” met privately with the pope to tell him about his latest project, a new show about St. Francis of Assisi.

Pope Francis meeting with Roberto Benigni, Dec. 7, 2022. Vatican Media
Pope Francis meeting with Roberto Benigni, Dec. 7, 2022. Vatican Media

The comic, who recited a line from Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy from memory on the Oscars stage in 1999, now serves as the host of the Italian program based on St. Francis’ poem “The Canticle of the Sun.”

Pope Francis meeting with Roberto Benigni, Dec. 7, 2022. | Vatican Media

The show, “Francesco Il Cantico,” is currently streaming on Paramount Plus in Italy. Benigni also gave the pope a copy of the program on DVD, according to Reuters.

Pope Francis meeting with Roberto Benigni, Dec. 7, 2022. Vatican Media
Pope Francis meeting with Roberto Benigni, Dec. 7, 2022. Vatican Media

Greeting the pope with a hug, Benigni joked that the pontiff was “emanating light.”

Pope Francis told him not to exaggerate, to which the actor replied: “I have to exaggerate, I’m happy to be here.”

Pope Francis meeting with Roberto Benigni, Dec. 7, 2022. | Vatican Media

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

EWTN Vatican on WhatsApp

EWTN

Share

Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican

Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.

More news related to this article

Pope Francis publishes apostolic letter on Blaise Pascal

Pope Francis published an apostolic letter on Monday praising the 17th-century mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal as “a tireless seeker of truth.”

Pope Francis buried in beloved Marian basilica after coffin crosses Rome in popemobile

Pope Francis was buried Saturday in the Basilica of St. Mary Major after his coffin crossed the center of Rome, marking the pontiff’s final goodbye to the Eternal City.

Pope Francis’ Mass in Papua New Guinea: ‘Open yourselves to the joy of the Gospel’

Pope Francis presided over Mass at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby on Sunday, delivering a powerful message to Papua New Guineans that despite the far distance that separates them from Rome, they are in the center of Christ’s heart.

Pope Francis prays for victims of Moscow terrorist attack at Palm Sunday Mass

Pope Francis offered prayers for the victims of the “vile terrorist attack” in Moscow at the end of his Palm Sunday Mass at the Vatican.

Castel Gandolfo prepares to welcome Pope Leo XIV: ‘The heart of the city returns’

Castel Gandolfo is preparing to welcome Pope Leo XIV on July 6. The imposing papal villa in this town on the shores of Lake Albano, a fortified 17th-century palace, was converted into a museum for tourists in 2016 by the decision of Pope Francis.

This is why Pope Francis wants you to spend less money this Christmas

Pope Francis is inviting everyone to have “a more humble Christmas” this year. At the end of his

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTNVatican.com