The Pope wants us to go to the Movies

In a world saturated with digital noise and endless streams of content, Pope Leo has offered an unexpected but deeply meaningful invitation: go to the movies. Speaking to filmmakers a few weeks ago during the Vatican’s first “World of Cinema” gathering, the Holy Father highlighted cinema not just as a cultural pastime, but as a vital space where imagination, humanity, and spiritual longing meet.

For the Pope, the power of cinema begins with its accessibility. He calls it “a popular art in the noblest sense, intended for and accessible to all.”

When the screen lights up, something deeper than entertainment occurs. The “magic light” of film can “ignite the eyes of the soul,” turning a dark theater into a place of reflection and possibility.

This experience mirrors the Catholic understanding of formation. A good film sharpens our attention, stirs empathy, and restores hope–virtues the Church sees as essential for a healthy spiritual life. Entering a cinema, the Pope says, is like “crossing a threshold,” stepping into a space where distractions fade and the imagination can breathe.

But he also warns that this space is disappearing. Many cinemas are closing, taking with them what he calls “the beating hearts of our communities.” These cultural places help keep cities human, offering room for shared experience and connection. His appeal is clear: society and the Church must work to preserve them.

Pope Leo sees cinema as more than culture. Like “the moving wind in the trees,” film reflects the Spirit moving freely in the world. Authentic cinema becomes an “art of the Spirit,” revealing beauty, confronting pain, and inviting reflection.

For this reason, filmmakers are called to be “witnesses of hope, beauty, and truth,” illuminating human dignity even in suffering. Pope Leo wants us to go to the movies not to escape life, but to engage it more fully. In the flickering light of a projector and the quiet presence of others, he sees an invitation to grace, community, and renewed humanity. An invitation worth accepting.