Pope Francis hosted an unprecedented audience at the Vatican, welcoming over 100 comedians from 15 countries, including notable figures such as Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock, and many others. This historic gathering emphasized the importance of humor and its role in bringing joy and hope, especially during challenging times.
Typically, Vatican audiences are characterized by a solemn atmosphere. However, this Friday's event broke the mold, featuring laughter and lighthearted exchanges within the imposing apostolic palace. The Pope's initiative aimed to highlight how humor can cultivate laughter and serenity, helping people overcome difficulties and stress while fostering social unity.
In his speech, Pope Francis articulated the necessity of humor in transmitting joy, serenity, and peace. He stressed that humor can be a powerful tool to break social barriers, alleviate everyday stress, and create inclusive environments. 'Your talent is a precious gift,' he told the comedians, 'Together with your smile, you spread peace. It helps us find relief in irony and take life with humor.'
The Pope elaborated on how humor can be used to denounce excesses of power and highlight invisible realities without inducing fear or anxiety. He praised the comedians for their ability to awaken the critical sense by narrating life stories through their unique points of view, thereby addressing both small and large problems in society.
Pope Francis underscored that true humor does not offend or humiliate but instead includes and unites people. He emphasized, 'The laughter of humor never goes against anyone but is always inclusive, proactive, arouses openness, sympathy, empathy.' He added, 'In the midst of so much gloomy news, you have the power to spread serenity and smiles.'
The pontiff also addressed the sensitive issue of laughing at religious themes, asserting that humor related to faith is not blasphemous if done without offending believers. He noted, 'Can we even laugh at God? Of course, this is not blasphemy... It can be done but without offending religious feelings, especially the poor.'
Comedians from various cultural backgrounds expressed their gratitude and shared moments from the event on social media. Whoopi Goldberg humorously recalled her previous encounter with the Pope and her jest about featuring him in 'Sister Act 3.' Many others, including Spanish actress Cristina Castaño and American comedian Jimmy Fallon, shared their joy and unique experiences from the event.
Pope Francis concluded by encouraging the comedians to continue using their art to uplift people, particularly those struggling to maintain hope. He humorously requested them to pray for him, indicating the light-hearted yet profound connection shared during the event.
The meeting, held just before the Pope's departure for the G7 summit in Apulia, underscored his commitment to engaging with the cultural world to enrich people's lives and foster global unity.
- Luciana Littizzetto, one of the attendees, read St. Thomas' prayer of good humor and remarked on the unusual joy of the day compared to their typical gatherings. Another comedian, Geppi Cucciari, presented the Pope with a bottle of myrtle, symbolizing the Sardinian tradition of never arriving empty-handed.
- Christian De Sica commented on the Pope's wit and recounted that the pontiff had watched 'Miracle in Milan' five times, highlighting the Pope's appreciation for cinema.
- Several comedians, including Giovanni Scifoni and Giacomo Poretti, were deeply impacted by the Pope's assertion that making someone laugh is akin to making God smile, underlining the profound influence of humor.
- Luca Bizzarri humorously admitted that he still had to figure out how to make God smile, reflecting the light-hearted yet meaningful discourse of the day.
