Patti Smith Meets Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in Rome

Patti Smith met with Pope Leo XIV on Friday at the Vatican. The singer and the pontiff, who are both Chicago natives, sat down for a 40-minute conversation.

Patti Smith portrait — Patti Smith, Photo: Birgit Fostervold, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The visit took place just days after Smith performed in Rome. The meeting was arranged by Rev. Antonio Spadaro, who serves as undersecretary in the Vatican’s culture ministry and is a friend of Smith.

“This is a moment that shall forever produce a smile,” Smith wrote on Instagram regarding the encounter.

A Musical Reference Recognized

Upon first meeting, Smith greeted Pope Leo XIV by saying “Hi, hi.” She delivered the greeting in the exact manner as on her 1979 song “Wave.” That track imagines a conversation with Pope John Paul I, who passed away following a 33-day papacy in 1978. Pope Leo XIV was familiar with “Wave” and immediately recognized the reference, telling Smith, “That was marvelous.”

“When that door opened, something happened… a spark was lit—one that came with a few lighthearted moments, but also with a profound sense of emotion and of a shared mission in this challenging world,” Rev. Spadaro wrote on Instagram.

Spadaro added: “Two Americans. Two Chicagoans. Two remarkable figures whose voices speak hope to a divided world: the ‘priestess of rock,’ as [Smith] is often called, and the Holy Father, [Pope Leo XIV]. It was a long audience that felt more like a conversation between two people discovering they were old friends, sharing memories woven from words and music, dreams, visions, and hopes—both from yesterday and for today.”

Shared Humanity

Although Smith is not Catholic, she noted that she was drawn to Pope Leo XIV because of his “gentle, open, and steadfast sense of humanity.” In May, Smith performed at the inauguration of the Holy See’s pavilion at the Venice Biennale contemporary art fair, which celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Pope’s election.

Smith previously met Pope Francis in 2013 and sang for him the following year. When Pope Francis died in 2025, Smith penned a poem about him.

Vatican Rome architecture — Vatican Rome, Photo: Livioandronico2013, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It was only a matter of time before the biggest band in metal decided to plant their flag in the most advanced venue on the planet. Metallica is preparing to bring their high-octane live show to the technologically advanced Las Vegas Sphere this fall, a move drummer Lars Ulrich admits feels both “overwhelming” and “fucking intimidating.” The residency, titled Life Burns Faster—a nod to a lyric from the band’s landmark track “Master of Puppets”—is scheduled to begin on October 1, 2026, and will run through March 13, 2027.

Photo: markwainwright, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Metallica Expands Sphere Residency to 24 Shows

The band initially announced eight dates for the residency, but due to high demand, the run has since been expanded to 24 performances. The schedule consists of 12 “No Repeat Weekends,” with the band playing distinct, unique sets each Thursday and Saturday night. During a recent appearance on U2 guitarist The Edge’s SiriusXM show, Close To The Edge, Ulrich shared that he was present for the opening night of U2’s inaugural Sphere residency in 2023, an experience he credited as a major source of inspiration for the band’s decision to take on the venue.

Why the Sphere Is a New Challenge for Metallica

Photo: Alberto Cabello, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“I was there opening night and was so just fucking awestruck, inspired, energized—all of it,” Ulrich told The Edge. “It was just, like, ‘Holy shit, this is somehow another frontier.’” Ulrich noted that while the band is known for maintaining complete control over their production environments, the move to the Sphere serves as a purposeful challenge. “It’s a place maybe we don’t end up in often enough, because we have a tendency to put ourselves in environments that we completely control and know. And so I think it’s really good to be able to throw yourself for a loop like that.”

Metallica Discusses Filming the Sphere Residency

The band has confirmed they are in talks to film the residency, leveraging the venue’s massive 16K wraparound screens and specialized sound system to offer fans a new way to experience their catalog. As Metallica prepares for the opening night, they join a growing list of major acts to occupy the venue, including the Eagles, Phish, Dead & Company, and No Doubt. Despite the technical pressure, Ulrich remains focused on the opportunity: “It’s gonna be challenging. But hopefully when we step out on stage that first night, we’ll have it somewhat together.”