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Ahead of Hollywood Visit, Pope Leo XIV Shares Four Favorite Films

Pope Leo XIV's four favorite films lean into mercy, family, hope, and love that carries pain. Ahead of Nov. 15, expect talk of dignity, community, and family-ready art.

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Ahead of Hollywood Visit, Pope Leo XIV Shares Four Favorite Films

Pope Leo XIV shares four favorite films - and the picks say a lot

Movies tell you who a person is. Pope Leo XIV (movies and tv series) just shared four favorites ahead of his Nov. 15 sit-down with a group of Hollywood actors and directors, and the list reads like a map of what he cares about: mercy, family, hope, and the weight of suffering - carried with love.

He's American-born, and you can feel the mix: a golden-age classic, a big-hearted musical, a bruising family drama, and a Holocaust fable that still sparks debates. It's not a long list. But it's not shallow either.

Note: Trailers are available for each title below. Video will be added automatically after this article.

Quick ratings context for your notes: OSV News labels these A-I (general audiences), A-II (adults and adolescents), and A-III (adults). Motion Picture Association ratings are listed where available - details below, and if you need a refresher on the system, see the official MPA ratings site.

"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946)

A man on the brink, a small town that actually notices, and a guardian angel who shows him the ripple effect of quiet goodness. Frank Capra (movies and tv series) doesn't hide the sentiment - he leans into it - and that's why it lands. You feel the bells, the snowfall, the ache before the relief.

For families programming seasonal slates: it remains a crowd-leveler. Just note that the darkest stretch (suicidal despair) can rattle very young viewers.

"Life Is Beautiful" (1998)

Roberto Benigni (movies and tv series) starts with screwball charm and pivots into survival - a father turning a Nazi camp into a "game" so his child can keep breathing without breaking. It's tender, risky, and yes, controversial to some. But the core is simple: a parent's imagination as a shield.

Screen this with context. It's one of those films where laughter and a lump in your throat occupy the same seat.

Article image from Stream Watch Guide

"Ordinary People" (1980)

A family looks perfect from the curb. Inside, grief has rewired the rooms. Robert Redford (movies and tv series)'s debut is cool to the touch on purpose - repression has a temperature - as parents and a surviving son wrestle with loss and the fallout of a suicide attempt.

It's the pick that tells you Pope Leo isn't chasing comfort. He's acknowledging pain that doesn't tidy itself up by the credits.

"The Sound of Music" (1965)

Yes, it's the sunshine one. But it's also about a family learning to sing together while shadows gather on the horizon. Julie Andrews (movies and tv series)' voice lifts the ceiling; Christopher Plummer (movies and tv series) keeps it grounded. The craft holds - songs, scenery, staging - and audiences still hum on the way out.

If you're building intergenerational programming, this is the easy bridge. It plays to kids without talking down to adults.

What this signals - and why it matters

Put simply, the pope's list is less about prestige and more about legacy. Stories that teach without scolding. Sorrow that's met with courage. Ordinary people who choose to love anyway.

For those of you in movie news - editors, programmers, publicists - this gives you an angle for Nov. 15 coverage: expect language about dignity, community, and art that meets families where they are. Maybe it's just timing. But the choices feel deliberate.

If you're tracking the Vatican side of the meeting, keep an eye on Vatican News for formal readouts.

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