While world leaders met in Italy, a different sort of gathering took place at the Vatican. Pope Francis hosted 100 comedians from around the world to ‘preach’ the importance of humor.
In attendance were bold-faced names such as Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris Rock, Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brien, and others.
What did the Pope have to say to the unusual crowd?
“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,” the pontiff told the gathering.
“You unite people, because laughter is contagious,” he said, adding that he has prayed for 40 years for a good sense of humor, adding his own joke and the end, where he asked the audience to “I ask you to please pray for me: for, with a smile, not against!” – and was obliged with laughter from the crowd.
“You manage to make people smile even while dealing with problems and events, large and small. You denounce abuses of power; you give voice to forgotten situations; you highlight abuses; you point out inappropriate behavior,” Pope Francis added.
“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!” the Pope said.
Pope Francis also said it was okay to “laugh at God” in the same way “we play and joke with the people we love.”
After delivering his speech, Francis took the time to greet all the comedians individually, sharing a light with quite a few of them.
“It was great,” Whoopi told reporters afterward. When asked if she had again asked the pope if he would appear in “Sister Act 3,” she said: “I didn’t think it was the right place to bring it up, but I’ll probably send an email.”