The Pope vs. the Algorithm

by

Pope Leo XIV clearly understands and appreciates film. Last Saturday, he hosted a group of prominent figures from the movie world at the Vatican and gave a surprisingly insightful speech – one of the best I’ve heard from someone outside the industry. (It would have been impressive even within the industry!) While news focused on fun moments like Spike Lee gifting the Pope a New York Knicks jersey, and Gaspar Noé presenting a copy of his film Vortex, the Pope’s remarks themselves deserve attention. They demonstrate he’s thoughtfully considering the challenges and issues facing cinema today.

Leo emphasized that making a movie is a team effort, where everyone relies on each other. While directors and actors often get the spotlight, he pointed out that hundreds of behind-the-scenes professionals – including assistants, prop managers, electricians, sound engineers, makeup artists, and many others – are essential to a film’s success. It was particularly noteworthy to hear this acknowledgement, especially coming from the Vatican. Leo’s comments arrived during a tense time in Italy, where the current right-wing government is clashing with the film industry, which it views as leaning politically left. The government is trying to significantly reduce funding for films, a move many see as part of a broader effort to diminish Italy’s progressive arts scene. These cuts would disproportionately impact the very same behind-the-scenes workers Leo highlighted.

Leo criticized our increasingly algorithm-driven world, arguing that while algorithms reinforce what’s already proven, art explores new possibilities. He emphasized the value of things that aren’t instant or predictable, urging us to embrace slowness, silence, and uniqueness when they have meaning. For Leo, beauty isn’t simply about escaping reality; it’s about inspiring us. He believed that truly great cinema doesn’t just comfort us, but challenges us to think differently.

It’s really striking to hear a pope talk about this. This particular talk wasn’t aimed at industry leaders or media executives – though it’s amusing to picture a scene from a show like The Studio where a character tries to get in. Essentially, Leo is speaking directly to artists, making a point about the value of art itself. We all know that algorithms and streaming services have made it harder to stumble upon new and different things. These platforms tend to show us more of what we already like, and it’s surprisingly difficult to break free from that cycle, even when we’re aware of it. Will the pope’s message actually change anything? Probably not. But it’s a good reminder that we’re right to notice how many viewers seem unwilling to step outside their usual preferences and engage with challenging content.

With these words, the Pope did something both important and unexpected: he spoke for the people watching. It’s common for critics and intellectuals to fault everyday viewers for a perceived lack of interest or passivity (I almost did the same thing just now!). But the Pope’s message highlights that audiences are largely shaped by what they’re shown. He still sees his role as a guide, and instead of criticizing viewers, he’s urging filmmakers to remember that the true purpose of art is to expand our horizons and explore new possibilities – regardless of current trends or popularity.

Leo continued, explaining that going to a movie theater is a special experience. He described how the darkness and quiet actually heighten our senses, making us more open and imaginative. He pointed out that while we’re constantly bombarded with information from digital screens these days, cinema is different – it’s a place where our hopes, memories, and curiosities all come together.

During the pandemic, when movie theaters were shut down, there were a lot of discussions about why seeing movies in theaters is important. Those debates have quieted down for now, but haven’t been fully resolved. It’s encouraging to see Leonardo DiCaprio strongly support the unique experience of going to the cinema – I was even going to call it ‘sacred,’ but I don’t want to assume what he considers sacred. More than that, he seems to recognize that films are more than just entertainment or simple narratives. Many of us champion the theatrical experience not just because we enjoy movie theaters, but because without them, filmmaking could lose its artistry and become solely focused on delivering information, data, or simply serving as promotional content.

Movies are much more than just entertainment; they’re a significant part of our culture and society, impacting us beyond what we see on screen. A lot of the unkindness and prejudice we see today stems from our growing difficulty connecting with others in real life. Why try to understand others when they seem lost in their phones? Why face discomfort when we can easily hide in our digital worlds, promising connection while actually isolating us? And why bother with challenges when it’s so much easier to simply avoid them?

I was struck by something film historian Jocelyn Szczepaniak-Gillece said a while back. She explained that when people gather in a dark room to watch a movie, they’re essentially sharing a collective experience, thinking and feeling together. This shared act of watching can build empathy and understanding by allowing us to see the world from another person’s point of view. She argued that when we lose the ability to come together publicly, it becomes harder to collaborate and connect with others. It might sound like an exaggeration, but in a world with fewer and fewer shared experiences, movie theaters – both as places and as a communal activity – remain a vital connection to our shared humanity. And it’s something, I believe, everyone should be concerned about.

Read More

2025-11-20 01:55