Dylan, 85, Meets Pope Leo XIV in Rare Public Appearance at Vatican
A brief Vatican encounter
Dylan met Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 4 at the Vatican. The appearance was a rare public outing for the 85-year-old musician. Vatican News said the pair exchanged greetings and had “a few lighthearted exchanges.” The Pope gave Dylan a rosary, while Dylan presented him with a copy of his autobiography, Chronicles: Volume One.
A meeting with history
Rev. Antonio Spadaro, a Vatican official who helped organize the meeting, described feeling moved by the encounter. In a social media post, he said it had “a real sense of history about it.” The two men wore contrasting outfits: Pope Leo, 71, was in a white cassock, while Dylan wore mostly black and kept his hood up during the meeting.
Dylan and earlier popes
Dylan also met Pope John Paul II in 1997, performing for him at the 23rd National Eucharistic Congress in Bologna, Italy. The event drew a crowd of 30,000.
John Paul quoted Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” during an address to the crowd. He asked how many roads a person must walk before being called a man, then said there was one road: Jesus Christ.
Key points
- Dylan’s Nov. 4 meeting with Pope Leo XIV was a rare public appearance for the 85-year-old musician.
- Vatican News reported greetings and lighthearted exchanges during the brief meeting.
- Leo gave Dylan a rosary, and Dylan gave the Pope his autobiography.
- Dylan performed for Pope John Paul II in Bologna in 1997.