Following the passing away of Pope Francis at age 88 on Easter Monday (April 21), several tributes poured in from Hollywood and beyond. From filmmakers to actors, celebrities remembered him as a compassionate spiritual leader and how they were moved by his humility, humanity, and enduring message of hope.
Filmmaker Martin Scorsese, who met Pope Francis several times and considered him a personal inspiration. In a statement shared with Variety, Scorsese said, “He was, in every way, a remarkable human being. He acknowledged his own failings. He radiated wisdom. He radiated goodness.” He added, “The loss for me runs deep. I was lucky enough to know him, and I will miss his presence and his warmth.”
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who met the Pope during the filming of his climate documentary ‘Before the Flood’, shared a tribute on Instagram. “Pope Francis was a transformational leader - not only for the Catholic Church, but also for environmental reform and activism (sic),” he wrote.
Eva Longoria wrote on her Instagram, “Thank you for being an ally to many of us and speaking up for the marginalised. Your compassion, kindness, and humility will always be remembered (sic).” Actor Whoopi Goldberg also shared a photo with the Pope, writing that he reminded her of Pope John XXIII — a figure who “made belief real.”
While Antonio Banderas described Pope Francis as a man of “kindness, love, and mercy to the neediest people (sic)", Russell Crowe wrote on X: “A beautiful day in Rome, but a sad day for the faithful. RIP Francis (sic).”
