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Pope Leo XIV Reveals Favorite Movies Ahead of Vatican Event
Music

Pope Leo XIV Reveals Favorite Movies Ahead of Vatican Event

by jummy84
written by jummy84

If you were hoping Pope Leo XIV was partial to movies like The Conclave or The Exorcist, sorry to disappoint. Ahead of a Hollywood gathering at the Vatican, the pontiff has revealed his four favorite films, which are all, unsurprisingly, extremely safe.

In a video posted by Variety, the pope listed 1946’s It’s a Wonderful Life starring Jimmy Stewart, 1965’s The Sound of Music featuring Julie Andrews, 1980’s Ordinary People starring Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore, and 1997’s Life Is Beautiful (La Vita è Bella) with Roberto Benigni.

Of those four films, three won Oscars, and the fourth was a nominee whose loss is considered one of the Academy’s worst snubs. The Sound of Music and Ordinary People each won Best Picture and Best Director, while Life Is Beautiful received an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actor for Benigni. It’s a Wonderful Life was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, but lost that award to The Best Years of Our Lives in 1946.

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Perhaps we’ll get a special Criterion Closet episode with deeper cuts next?

As reported by Variety, Pope Leo is set to host a Vatican event on Saturday, November 15th, which will be attended by Hollywood stars including Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine, Viggo Mortensen, Alison Brie, Dave Franco, and Monica Bellucci.

Filmmakers Spike Lee, Gus Van Sant, George Miller, and Giuseppe Tornatore are also expected to attend. The gathering was organized by the Vatican’s culture office as part of the Catholic Church’s Holy Year celebrations.

In a statement, the Vatican said the pope aims “to deepen dialogue with the World of Cinema” while “exploring the possibilities that artistic creativity offers to the mission of the Church and the promotion of human values.”

It’s a clear move to deepen ties with Hollywood compared to his predecessor. While the late Pope Francis hosted late night hosts Conan O’Brien, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Fallon in June 2024, Pope Leo seems to be intent on courting Hollywood A-list stars.

Pope Leo has been meeting with several movie stars as of late, including Al Pacino in June and Robert De Niro last week. Last month, he denounced clickbait during a private meeting with media members and urged companies to be proactive in addressing AI.

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bitchy | Queen Camilla wore quite a statement headpiece for her visit to the Vatican
Celebrity News

bitchy | Queen Camilla wore quite a statement headpiece for her visit to the Vatican

by jummy84
written by jummy84

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Italy on Wednesday evening. They just did a tarmac greeting with various Italian and Vatican officials, then they went to their hotel or whatever and rested for their big day, which is today. These photos are of Charles and Camilla arriving in Vatican City. Today is the day when Pope Bob (Pope Leo) gets to “pray” with a divorced Anglican adulterer who is sheltering and protecting his rapist degenerate brother. This whole thing is part of Charles’s bucket list for some reason, he’s been trying to stage something big with a pope for a while. Pope Francis didn’t play his games, but Pope Bob is like “sure, whatever, let’s do this.”

So, let’s talk about Camilla and what she’s wearing? There’s a dress code in Vatican City, for general visitors, including women not exposing their knees or shoulders. Specifically for Protestant women who are heads of state/first ladies/queen consorts, women are expected to wear black and be as covered-up as possible, with some kind of head covering. Incidentally, there’s an exception for Catholic queens, like Spain’s Queen Letizia – it’s called “privilège du blanc,” which means they can wear white when they’re meeting a pope. So, Camilla is an Anglican divorcee and adulterer, and as such, she had to wear black and some kind of head covering. I’m not sure they were expecting THIS headpiece though. What in the world?

Anyway, it’s worth noting that 2025 is the Vatican’s Jubilee year. That’s why Charles has been so focused on visiting the Vatican this year in particular, almost to the exception of everything else. I still find it odd that the head of the Church of England is so focused on this.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.

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The Clipse Reflect On Historic Vatican Performance
Music

The Clipse Reflect On Historic Vatican Performance

by jummy84
written by jummy84

In a moment that felt both divine and defiant, The Clipse did something no other Hip-Hop act has ever done — they performed at The Vatican. Yes, that sacred place obtaining St. Peter’s Square.

Last month, Pusha T and No Malice turned one of the holiest sites on Earth into a sanctuary for Hip-Hop, delivering a soul-stirring performance of their reflective single “The Birds Don’t Sing.”

The Virginia-bred brothers took the stage during the Grace for the World concert, with John Legend joining them for a powerful live rendition that felt transcendent. Through the song’s lyrics, they channeled the pain and healing that followed their parents’ passing, creating a moment that resonated deeply with both the faithful and Hip-Hop heads alike.

For Clipse, though, the Vatican performance hit different. It came on the heels of their long-awaited reunion album Let God Sort ’Em Out after a 15-year hiatus. While speaking with them at the Pepsi Philly Eats Fest on Saturday (Oct. 4), the magnitude of their achievement and the history they’d just made was not lost on either brother.

“It was definitely a moment for us,” Malice told VIBE. “I think we definitely broke ground. It’s overdue and past time that people understand that Hip-Hop belongs everywhere. It’s expression, it’s communication, it teaches the world about our culture. It’s an art form that’s celebrated in every walk of life. It’s nothing that should be surprising — we should be celebrated everywhere.”

It’s not the first time Hip-Hop has been elevated to spaces once deemed “too highbrow” for the culture. Just last month, Future saw his DS2 album reimagined as a ballet, fusing trap music with classical dance. The latter is part of the movement of rappers expanding the genre’s reach beyond stadiums, Super Bowls, and red carpets and into the world’s most prestigious art institutions.

But this moment at The Vatican was undeniably defining.

Pusha echoed Malice’s sentiment, reflecting on Hip-Hop’s long road to becoming a respected artform. “I think we have a responsibility to our fans specifically to showcase our talent and showcase the things that they fell in love with on all of the biggest platforms,” he said. “I think it’s good for fans of Hip-Hop and the culture to see how far this thing can go.”

“I’ve been here for a long time with Hip-Hop, and I remember it not being seen as an art, and it not being televised,” he continued. “And like you said, now being at The Vatican — we do this so everyone can see how far it can go.”

Alessandra Benedetti-Corbis/Getty Images

Pharrell Williams co-produced the Grace for the World concert that took place on Sept. 13, alongside Nova Sky Stories and the legendary Andrea Bocelli, calling it “a rare cultural moment where the world stops and collectively tunes in.” And he wasn’t exaggerating.

The Clipse performance was less about creating a “contradictory” spectacle and more about the symbolism and proof that Hip-Hop now commands reverence even in the holiest of places.

A long ways from grinding in Virginia Beach to now performing in Vatican City, The Clipse’s journey is a testament to Hip-Hop’s limitless boundaries.

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bitchy | King Charles & Camilla will spend two days in Vatican City & meet Pope Bob
Celebrity News

bitchy | King Charles & Camilla will spend two days in Vatican City & meet Pope Bob

by jummy84
written by jummy84

This past April, King Charles and Queen Camilla visited Italy. The backstory on the royal tour is fascinating – at the end of 2023, Kensington Palace teased a potential royal tour of Italy for the Prince and Princess of Wales. Then Kate’s medical situation and disappearance happened, and the Italian trip was no longer on the table. Suddenly, Charles and Camilla were the ones planning a visit to Rome. They ended up scheduling it around their wedding anniversary, so it felt less like a royal tour and more like an Italian vacation with some public events. The original plan also involved a stop in Vatican City to meet with Pope Francis. Franny got very ill, so the Vatican canceled on C&C. But C&C wouldn’t take no for an answer – they ended up visiting Francis anyway and getting a brief photo-op. They also got the Vatican to issue a statement about how Franny wished them well on their anniversary. The whole thing was actually pretty tacky, especially given that Francis died soon after.

Well, Charles and Camilla are bizarrely undeterred. They’ve apparently rescheduled a visit to the Vatican and they have plans to meet the new pope in person. Pope Leo (aka Pope Bob) has apparently agreed to all of this? Hm.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to meet with Pope Leo during an official state visit to Vatican City next month. The Sun reported over the weekend that the King and Queen will spend around two days in the holy city in October, an abbreviated trip following their official state visit to Italy earlier this year.

King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 78, were originally set to make an official visit to the Vatican in April as part of the Italy trip. However, it was postponed due to Pope Francis’ ill health at the time. Instead, the royal couple met privately with the Catholic leader on April 9.

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88, following months of health struggles — which included a 38-day hospitalization, where he was treated for double pneumonia. Following Pope Francis’ death, the cardinals of the Catholic Church gathered for the papal conclave, where they selected Pope Leo XIV — previously known as Cardinal Robert Prevost — as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

While the King and Queen have yet to officially meet Pope Leo, 70, in person, the Catholic leader recently extended a meaningful gesture to the royal family. Earlier this month, the Pope sent a surprise tribute to the late Katharine, Duchess of Kent, who died on Sept. 4 at age 92. The Duchess’s funeral mass on Sept. 16, conducted by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, was historic as the first Catholic funeral for a member of the British royal family in modern history.

[From People]

Charles does have a commitment to embracing all people of faith, not just Anglicans. But his obsession with popes is weird, right? He’s all about popes. Why is it so important for him to get facetime with Pope Bob? Most of Europe’s Catholic royals have already met with Pope Bob, or they made a point of attending one of his first Masses. I guess Charles didn’t want to be left out. (Incidentally, I still haven’t completely absorbed the fact that the new pope is a guy named Bob from Chicago.)

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

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Clipse Become First Hip-Hop Artists To Perform At The Vatican
Music

Clipse Become First Hip-Hop Artists To Perform At The Vatican

by jummy84
written by jummy84

In a groundbreaking and reverent moment for both music and culture, Clipse—the legendary hip-hop duo comprised of Pusha T and No Malice—became the first hip-hop artists in history to perform at The Vatican.

The Virginians made the trek overseas to put forth a moving performance during the Grace for the World concert held in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday (Sept. 13).

Not only did Clipse shatter boundaries by stepping onto one of the most sacred stages on Earth, but they also took part in a historic first: Grace for the World marked the first-ever concert to be held in St. Peter’s Square, located at the heart of Vatican City in Rome, Italy.

Alessandra Benedetti – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

The duo performed their soul-searching track “The Birds Don’t Sing” with a surprise appearance from John Legend, whose soaring vocals added depth and spiritual resonance to the already heartfelt set. The powerful collaboration left attendees in awe, blending the raw lyricism of hip-hop with gospel-infused soul.

“This is a rare cultural moment where the world stops and collectively tunes in. It is a message of unity and grace for all of humanity,” said Pharrell Williams, whose company Something in the Water co-produced the event alongside Nova Sky Stories and the legendary Andrea Bocelli.

The star-studded concert also featured performances from Jennifer Hudson, BamBam, Jelly Roll, Karol G, and Teddy Swims, a lineup that transcended genre, language, and faith.

Clipse

Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images

For Clipse, the moment is another peak in a year of reinvention and resurgence. The duo’s long-awaited fourth studio album, Let God Sort ’Em Out, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, powered by singles like “Ace Trumpets” and “So Be It.” Their first release in over 15 years has already been hailed as one of 2025’s best hip-hop albums.

In a performance that bridged the sacred and the street, Clipse not only made history—they brought hip-hop to one of the holiest stages in the world.

Watch the Clipse’s performance at the Grace for the World concert below.

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Watch Clipse make history as first rappers to perform at the Vatican
Music

Watch Clipse make history as first rappers to perform at the Vatican

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Rap duo Clipse continued their comeback on Saturday (September 13) by becoming the first hip-hop act to perform at the Vatican – check out some of the footage below.

Brothers Pusha T and Malice were accompanied by John Legend and the Voices of Fire gospel choir as they performed their track ‘The Birds Don’t Sing’ from their album ‘Let God Sort Em Out’, released in July to become their first album since 2009.

They performed in front of over 250,000 people in St. Peter’s Square, as part of Pharrell Williams’ ‘Grace For The World’ concert that celebrated the 2025 Jubilee and helped close the third annual World Meeting on Human Fraternity.

Voices of Fire and Legend both featured on the album recording of the song. Co-written by Williams and Stevie Wonder – the latter providing piano and spoken word – ’The Birds Don’t Sing’ sees Pusha T and Malice coming to terms with the loss of their parents. Take a look at some of the footage form the concert here.

 

Clipse recently finished a US tour, during which they brought out Kendrick Lamar to perform their track ‘Chains & Whips’, and they’re set to appear at ONE Musicfest, Dia De Los Deftones, and Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival. They’ll also be coming to the UK and Europe in November, and you can find tickets here.

Clipse’s remaining 2025 tour dates are:

OCTOBER
26 – ONE Musicfest, Atlanta, GA

NOVEMBER
1 – Dia De Los Deftones, San Diego, CA
5 – 013 Poppodium, Tilburg, Netherlands
8 – L’Olympia, Paris, France
9 – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, UK
10 – Manchester Academy, Manchester, UK
12 – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, UK
20 – O2 Academy Brixton, London, UK

Clipse were first active as a duo from 1994 before going on hiatus in 2010 to focus on their solo careers. They temporarily reformed in both 2019 and 2022 – even appearing on stage together – before officially coming back in 2023.

In a three-star review of ‘Let God Sort Em Out’, NME wrote: “‘Let God Sort Em Out’ isn’t a total misfire: it’s composed, thoughtful and often impressively lyrically detailed. But after 16 years, Clipse didn’t come back knocking down doors and shocking the world. They came back to remind you they’re still here, still alive, still ruminating.”

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