Pope Francis recently hosted an unprecedented meeting with over 100 comedians from around the world at the Vatican in Rome, emphasizing the unique role that humor plays in uniting people and spreading joy. Among the attendees were notable figures such as Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock, Whoopi Goldberg, Silvio Orlando, Stephen Merchant, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Jimmy Fallon and Chris Rock making Pope Francis laugh after their private audience at the Vatican this morning. pic.twitter.com/QGARhCHarm
— Colm Flynn (@colmflynnire) June 14, 2024
During this gathering, the Pope addressed the comedians, highlighting the importance of laughter in today’s society, especially amidst the various personal and social crises people face. He commended the comedians for their ability to bring smiles and lighten hearts, stating that laughter has the “power to spread serenity and smiles” and is a unifying force because “laughter is contagious.”
In a remarkable comment on the intersection of faith and humor, Pope Francis reassured the comedians that it is permissible to laugh about God, clarifying that doing so respectfully is not blasphemous but a way to engage with faith without offending believers. This underscores his progressive stance on how religion can intersect with modern cultural expressions.
“I think he said, I hate you Conan O’Brien!”… Just after Pope Francis met with over 100 comedians at the Vatican this morning, I asked @ConanOBrien about the special audience. 😂 pic.twitter.com/wteLLT3G8b
— Colm Flynn (@colmflynnire) June 14, 2024
The event took place just hours before the Pope was scheduled to travel to Puglia for the G7 summit, marking a significant moment as it was the first time a leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics would participate in this gathering of the world’s seven largest advanced economies. At the summit, the Pope planned to advocate for the global regulation of artificial intelligence, highlighting its potential risks to ethics and human rights.
The meeting with the comedians also served as an opportunity for Pope Francis to address the impact of modern communication, which he noted often leads to conflict. He praised the entertainers for their ability to bridge diverse groups and viewpoints through humor, emphasizing the need for society to learn from their approach.
🇮🇹 POPE TO COMEDIANS: YOU HAVE MY BLESSINGS TO MOCK GOD
The pope gathered a bunch of American comedians, including Whoopi Goldberg and Chris Rock, in the Vatican this week to enlighten them that joking about God is not necessarily blasphemous.
Was the pope just engaging in a… https://t.co/nvmfCIHxmJ pic.twitter.com/ScA27LDncE
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 14, 2024
After his address, Pope Francis personally met with each comedian, engaging in brief exchanges. Not all interactions were fully understood by the comedians, as humorously noted by late-night host Conan O’Brien, who joked about the language barrier during his quick exchange with the Pope.
Major Points:
- Pope Francis met with over 100 comedians from around the world, including Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock, and Whoopi Goldberg, at the Vatican to discuss the importance of laughter.
- The Pope praised the comedians for their ability to spread joy and unity, stating that laughter has the “power to spread serenity and smiles” and is contagious.
- He reassured the attendees that humor involving God is acceptable and not blasphemous if done respectfully, emphasizing the positive connection between faith and humor.
- This meeting occurred just before the Pope’s participation in the G7 summit in Puglia, where he planned to discuss global issues including the regulation of artificial intelligence.
- Following his speech, Pope Francis engaged in brief personal interactions with each comedian, highlighting a moment of cultural and humorous exchange.
RM Tomi – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
