Copyright NBC 5 Chicago
Most everyone has a favorite holiday movie - even the Pope. In a video message shared by the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV divulged his all-time favorite movies, and one Christmas classic made the cut. At the top of his list was "It's a Wonderful Life," the 1946 film starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore. While the Chicago-born pontiff hasn't declared if he's a movie buff, his favorite flicks span a variety of genres. Also on the list are "The Sound of Music," one of the most popular movies of all time, the 1980 drama "Ordinary People” directed by Robert Redford and “Life Is Beautiful," an Italian comedy-drama. The pope revealed his favorite movies ahead of a visit with several Hollywood stars this weekend at the Vatican. Pope Leo is expected to meet with dozens of stars, including Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine and Dave Franco during an event organized by the Vatican’s culture office as part of the Catholic Church’s Holy Year celebrations, Variety reported. 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. Actor Al Pacino met Pope Leo in June, becoming the first actor to greet the pontiff. Historically, it's uncommon for a pope to host celebrities. The late Pope Francis, Leo's predecessor, hosted more than 100 comedians at the Vatican last year, including Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert.
