1+ week, 6+ day ago (254+ words) Pope Francis has enlisted some serious star power to spread hope and inspiration, welcoming Hollywood A-listers including Australian actress Cate Blanchett to the Vatican for a special mission. The Oscar-winning actress was among the celebrities packing the pews of the Vatican's Clementine Hall after being welcomed by the Pope for a sermon on cinema. The pontiff, perhaps preaching to the converted, contrasted the digital age's constant flow of information with film's ability to explore deeper questions after naming It's a Wonderful Life and The Sound of Music among his favourites this week. "More than a few people say the art of cinema and the cinematic experience are in danger," the Pope said. "I urge institutions not to give up." He issued a real charge not to shy away from difficult, painful stories, talking about tears that often people are unable…...

4+ week, 1+ day ago (347+ words) An Indigenous elder has formed an extraordinary friendship with Pope Leo XIV, regularly playing Wordle and chatting online with the leader of the Catholic Church. Theresa Ardler, a committed Catholic, developed her papal connections through her close relationship with the late Pope Francis, who passed away in April aged 88. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Indigenous elder plays Wordle with the Pope. "I think about him every day and I pray for him every day," Ardler said of Francis. Remarkably, Ardler was the last person on earth to have a papal audience with Francis, meeting with him for two hours immediately after US Vice President JD Vance's brief five-minute visit. "I actually didn't know who he was. He said, "hello, my name is JD Vance'. And I said, oh, "where are you from?' He goes, "America'. He was only with (Francis) five…...