The late Pope Francis held a similar event in June 2024 before his death. He brought together more than 100 comedians at the Vatican, including Jimmy Fallon, Conan O’Brien, Stephen Colbert, and Whoopi Goldberg.

On Oct. 9, Pope Leo XIV released his first apostolic exhortation, “Dilexi Te.” Gerard O’Connell, America’s senior Vatican correspondent, provided analysis for our online readers, writing that the exhortation was a continuation of Pope Francis’ message of love and caring for the poor and marginalized.

For the first time since he was selected to be the pope in May, Pope Leo will host Hollywood stars such as Cate Blanchett and Chris Pine in Italy.

"From when he was a child until he became a priest and then left for Peru, he has always been somewhat the same person," said Vatican News journalist Salvatore Cernuzio.

“In this Jubilee Year, Pope Leo XIV has expressed his desire to deepen dialogue with the World of Cinema, and in particular with actors and directors, exploring the possibilities that artistic creativity offers to the mission of the Church and the promotion of human values,” a news release reads.

On Your Side spoke to Vatican Reporter Colleen Dulle about her experience covering Pope Leo XIV over the last six months.

Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy' presents readers with a substantive, engaging portrait of where things stand right now in a church, and a world, increasingly marked by polarization,