Pope Leo XIV received US singer-songwriter Bob Dylan at the Apostolic Palace on Wednesday. The meeting took place during the Rome leg of Dylan’s ongoing tour through Italy. The two figures, both originating from the United States Midwest, held a brief audience according to reports from Vatican News.
Dylan, who is 85 years old, arrived dressed in a nearly all-black ensemble. His outfit included a pulled-up hoodie, gloves, and an umbrella. This dark attire stood in sharp contrast to the white vestments worn by the Chicago-born Pope.
During the visit, the two exchanged personal gifts. Leo presented the Nobel laureate with a rosary. In return, Dylan gave the Pope a copy of his autobiography, Chronicles: Volume One. The interaction served as a highlight of Dylan’s time in the capital before his scheduled concert.
The performance is set to take place on Thursday at the Palazzo dello Sport. This show is one of several stops in Italy as part of the Rough and Rowdy Ways tour. The timing of the papal audience allowed the musician to connect with the religious leader just before taking the stage for a large audience.
The connection between the two men has historical roots in literary and musical references. Pope Leo has previously cited Dylan in his own writing. In the preface to a book titled Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift, the Pontiff quoted a line from an unreleased anti-nuclear song by the artist.
The specific line quoted was, “I hate you cause yer man-made and man-owned, an' man-handled.” This verse comes from the song Go Away You Bomb. The song was composed in 1963 during the height of the Cold War but was never officially recorded.
According to the New York Times, the typewritten lyrics for that track remained unpublished until 2013. They were discovered and subsequently put up for auction at that time. The Pope used the lyric in his book as a warning to the world against the trend of rearmament.
This encounter marks the second time Dylan has met a pope. The first meeting occurred in 1997 when Dylan was invited to perform before Pope John Paul II. The event took place in Bologna during the 23rd National Eucharistic Congress, where approximately 300,000 young people were in attendance.
For that 1997 performance, Dylan played four songs, including the classic Knockin' on Heaven's Door. During the set, he reportedly climbed the stage to shake hands with John Paul II and exchange a few words. The then-Pope also referenced Dylan’s work by quoting the hit song Blowin' in the Wind in his sermon to the crowd.
