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Patti Smith meets Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican: “A spark was lit”
Patti Smith met Pope Leo XIV in a private 40-minute audience at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on 31 July. The meeting matters as it brought together two prominent Chicago-born Americans whose representatives described their conversation as centred on hope, culture and a shared response to a divided world.
Smith attended with Reverend Antonio Spadaro, the Vatican’s Undersecretary for Culture and Education, who said the pair quickly developed a warm rapport despite Smith initially being almost speechless. Smith, who is not Catholic but had admired Pope Francis and performed at the Vatican in 2014, called the encounter a moment that would “forever produce a smile”.
In short
- Patti Smith held a private 40-minute audience with Pope Leo XIV.
- Their meeting was described as warm, hopeful and emotionally significant.
- Smith has long expressed appreciation for the Vatican and Pope Francis.
Explained simply
Patti Smith is an American singer, poet and writer whose work has influenced generations of musicians and artists. She has spoken about the role of art and spirituality in public life, and performed at the Vatican in 2014.
Pope Leo XIV is the head of the Catholic Church and was born in Chicago, like Smith. Their meeting brought together figures from music and religion to discuss hope, culture and how people might respond to divisions in society.