Pope Francis never ceases to amaze us with his behavior. Recently he surprised us with his controversial use of anti-gay slur words; today he entertained more than one hundred comedians in the Vatican, underscoring his message about the power of laughter to unite people across different cultures and backgrounds.
In a remarkable gathering, Pope Francis welcomed over 100 comedians from around the globe at the Vatican. The Pope frequently meets with artists and performers, but this event, gathering only comedians, is believed to be unique. It included renowned figures such as Stephen Colbert, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Conan O’Brien, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Chris Rock, but more than two-thirds of the entertainers were Italian.
Pope Francis emphasized the contagious nature of laughter and its ability to bring peace and joy even amidst challenging times. “In the midst of so much gloomy news,” Francis told them, “you denounce abuses of power, you give voice to forgotten situations, you highlight abuses, you point out inappropriate behavior.” He also praised them for getting people to “think critically by making them laugh and smile.”
Late-night host Stephen Colbert, an observant Catholic who often jokes about his religion, was one of the comics who took the opportunity to needle the Pope. Announcing his trip to the Vatican this week, the host criticized the pope for using — and then two weeks later repeating — an anti-gay slur. Implying both censure and affection, Stephen Colbert said, “Why? Why, Pope Frankie, why?”
The Pontiff, who himself is known for telling jokes, playfully requested the comedians to pray for him and celebrated the divine aspect of humor, suggesting that when they make even one person smile, they also make God smile.
This event was a testament to the belief that humor can be a bridge between diverse communities, fostering a sense of solidarity and shared humanity. The comedians, in turn, expressed their appreciation for the experience, with some humorously noting the surreal quality of the meeting—a feeling that is no doubt shared by the public.
The gathering at the Vatican was not only a celebration of humor but also a reminder of the lighter side of spirituality and the role it can play in bringing people together.
As is to be expected, not everyone was happy with the selection of comedians. Willian Donohue, the president of the Catholic League, a conservative American group, opined in an article on the group’s website that it might have been better to “vet these comedians before introducing them to the pope.” In particular, he pointed out that Colbert had once compared the Eucharist to Doritos, and he denounced jokes by Jimmy Fallon and Conan O’Brien that mocked priests over the church’s pervasive sexual-abuse scandals.
In a typically comedic but barbed comment, O’Brien noted that the rosary the Pope gave him as a gift will make his mother very happy, but that then he will take it back from her and sell it on eBay.
It was all in good fun, but the underlying message that levity is important in particularly dark times like the present, could not have been missed.
