No Joke! Pope Francis meets Comedians Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon + Whoopi Goldberg at Vatican | FULL

Pope Francis Hosts "Conclave of the Comedians" at the Vatican

In a remarkable gathering at the Vatican, Pope Francis hosted an audience with 100 of the world's top comedians, including notable names like Stephen Colbert, Chris Rock, Whoopi Goldberg, Conan O'Brien, and Jimmy Fallon. The event, dubbed a "conclave of the comedians," was attended by more than 200 people from 15 different countries, filling the Apostolic Palace with laughter and joy.

Addressing the assembly, Pope Francis emphasized the unique power of comedy in today's world. “In the midst of so much gloomy news, immersed as we are in many social and even personal emergencies, you have the power to spread peace and smiles,” he said. “You unite people, because laughter is contagious.”

The pontiff, who has often spoken about the importance of humor in his life, shared that he prays daily for a sense of humor, a practice he has maintained for 40 years. The event, organized by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education and Dicastery for Communication, aimed to bridge the gap between the Catholic Church and artists.

Highlighting the vital role of comedians, Pope Francis remarked, “While communication today often generates conflict, you know how to bring together diverse and sometimes contrary realities. How much we need to learn from you!” He even encouraged the idea of "laughing at God" in a loving manner, similar to how we joke with loved ones.

The audience was treated to a mix of humor and wisdom, with the Pope ending his speech on a light note, asking the comedians to “pray for him, not against” him, drawing laughter from the crowd.

British comedian Stephen Merchant, writer and director of "The Office," represented the UK, while Ardal O’Hanlon from "Father Ted" joined as part of the Irish contingent. The largest group of comedians hailed from Italy, making up two-thirds of the participants.

Ahead of the event, Stephen Colbert joked on his late-night show about his upcoming visit to the Vatican. "Pope Francis is going to meet me at the Vatican! Am I excited? Is the pope Catholic?" He humorously advised Chris Rock to avoid any controversial remarks, referencing Rock's infamous Oscars incident with Will Smith, saying, “Chris, please for safety’s sake I would just keep Mary Magdalene’s name out of your mouth. Because the Pope wears a big ring!”

Seinfeld and Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus, when asked about her invitation, responded, “I have no idea what to expect.”

Participants included: Ardal O’Hanlon (IRE), Tommy Tiernan (IRE), Patrick Kielty (IRE), Ian Hislop (UK), Stephen Merchant (UK), Stephen Colbert (USA), Jimmy Fallon (USA), Jim Gaffigan (USA), Whoopi Goldberg (USA), James Martin (USA), Tig Notaro (USA), Chris Rock (USA), Conan O’Brien (USA), Rivelino Barro Gonçalves (TL), Malena Guinzburg (AR), Paula Arcila (CO), Liss Pereira (CO), Maribel Trujillo Botello (CO), Florinda Meza García (MX), Chumel Torres (MX), Cristina Castaño (ES), Belen Cuesta Llamas (ES), Sara Escudero Rodriguez (ES), and Victoria Martin (ES).

This unique gathering underscored the Pope's belief in the transformative power of humor and its role in fostering unity and joy.

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#PopeFrancis #ComedyAtTheVatican #StephenColbert #ChrisRock #WhoopiGoldberg #ConanOBrien #JimmyFallon #UnityThroughLaughter #CatholicChurch #GlobalComedians #VaticanEvent #LaughWithGod
#funny #comedy #pope #catholic #catholicchurch #italy #rome #jimgaffigan