Pope Francis Meets Comedians at the Vatican
On June 14, 2024, Pope Francis engaged with over 100 comedians from 15 nations at the Vatican, urging them to "please pray for me — for, not against." Prominent American comedians such as Conan O’Brien, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock, Jim Gaffigan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Stephen Colbert attended the gathering.
The meeting occurred ahead of Pope Francis's participation in the Group of 7 summit in Puglia, Italy. During the session, the Pope highlighted the role of comedians in spreading joy and peace amidst troubling news and personal tribulations. He noted, "You have the power to spread peace and smiles."
This event unfolded shortly after the Pope faced backlash for allegedly using a derogatory term for gay people in a closed-door meeting with Roman priests. Despite his recent apology, the term reportedly resurfaced in his comments, stirring further controversy within the LGBTQ+ community.
Comedians shared their reflections on the meeting, with Conan O’Brien describing it as "strange" but noting he did not have an in-depth conversation with the Pope. Whoopi Goldberg expressed happiness from the encounter, while Stephen Colbert mentioned he conversed with Pope Francis in Italian about narrating his memoir "Life."
Francis emphasized the importance of humor, suggesting it can unite people and even bring a smile to God. The Pope's brief interaction with the comedians reinforced his view that laughter is an essential part of human interaction and spirituality.