Al Pacino becomes first film star to meet Pope Leo XIV

Al Pacino has become the first major celebrity to have an official audience with the newly elected pope. The actor, 85, met the pontiff at the Vatican on Monday. He is currently in Italy shooting a film about car moguls the Maserati brothers.
After the pair's introduction, the film's producer, Andrea Iervolino, wrote: 'We are honoured to announce that this morning His Holiness Pope Leo XIV received in a private audience at the Holy See a delegation from the film Maserati: The Brothers, including Oscar winner actor Al Pacino and the film's producer Andrea Iervolino.
'The meeting was a moment of profound spiritual and cultural inspiration, centred around shared values that lie at the heart of both the Catholic church and the film: family unity, love, compassion and the importance of contributing to the common good.'
The statement continued: 'These values, which Pope Leo XIV has consistently emphasised in his recent messages to the world, resonate deeply with the story of the Maserati brothers: a family whose legacy was built not only on innovation and excellence but on profound mutual respect, solidarity and a shared vision.'
A photograph shared with Variety shows Iervolino presenting the pontiff with a commemorative model car in a glass case, as Pacino looks on.
In the film, Pacino plays businessman Vincenzo Vaccaro, an early investor in the company. Also starring are Anthony Hopkins, Andy Garcia and Jessica Alba.
Pacino was raised Catholic by his Italian parents in 1940s New York but his faith was tested when he was revived by paramedics while suffering from Covid in 2020.
'I believe I experienced death that day,' wrote Pacino in his 2024 memoir, Sonny Boy. 'I returned, and I can tell you there was nothing out there. It's over. You're here, then you're not.'
On Sunday, the pope addressed the crowd by video at the White Sox ballpark in Chicago at a mass in his honour. Born in Illinois and a longtime resident of Chicago, the pope is known to be a fan of the baseball team.

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