Roberto Benigni, the popular Italian actor and filmmaker, known for his Oscar-winning movie, “Life is Beautiful,” graced the inaugural World Children’s Day event alongside Pope Francis on Sunday.
Francis welcomed 50,000 boys and girls from more than 100 countries around the world gathered in St. Peter’s Square. At the conclusion of the celebration, Roberto Benigni’s monologue-show began with a jibe at Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was seated in the front row.
This special day, established by Pope Francis, aimed to highlight the challenges faced by children worldwide due to poverty, war, and climate change.
Benigni, with his characteristic exuberance and humor, delivered a poignant monologue that touched on themes of hope, dreams, and the power of storytelling. The actor’s presence at such a significant event underscored the Vatican’s commitment to addressing the pressing issues affecting children globally and the role of art and culture in inspiring change and resilience among the youngest members of society.
Benigni’s collaboration with Pope Francis on this occasion was a powerful reminder of the potential for celebrity influence to be harnessed for the greater good, advocating for peace and the well-being of children everywhere.
“When I was a kid, and they asked me ‘what do you want to be when you grow up’, I used to answer ‘the Pope’ and everyone laughed their heads off. So I decided to be a comedian, if they had knelt down I would have been the pope. I’m almost thinking that I want to run in the next election. With you at my side your Holiness, we’d win by a landslide. Let’s put the name Jorge Mario Bergoglio, aka Francis, on the ballot: we’d win for sure. That would be beautiful.”
Then the moment got serious, and he called for peace in every corner of the world.
“War, it’s an ugly word, it dirties everything. We have to put an end to it. Why is it that when children play, as soon as one gets hurt, they stop, end of the game, and instead those who make war don’t stop at the first child who gets hurt? The war has to stop.”
Finally came Benigni’s invitation to children: “take your life and make it a masterpiece,” he said.
“Make others happy–happy I said– not more good. And to make others happy, we have to be happy ourselves. There is only one person you have to make more good, yourself. Become the adult you wanted to be when you were a child, that is today, now.”
It should come as no surprise that Benigni is politically committed. His brand of humor is not just for entertainment; it often serves as a medium for social commentary, addressing complex topics such as war, immigration, and the human condition. His most acclaimed work, “Life Is Beautiful,” showcased his ability to combine comedy with tragic elements and highlighted the importance of humor in shedding light on political and social issues, reflecting the long-standing tradition of comedians speaking truth to power through satire.
