Bob Dylan Meets Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican
Source: NPR Music · November 5, 2026
Bob Dylan visited the Vatican on November 4, 2026, to meet with Pope Leo XIV, as reported by NPR Music. The encounter was brief, with the two exchanging gifts: a rosary from the Pope and a copy of Dylan's autobiography, 'Chronicles: Volume One', from the singer.
The meeting was facilitated by two Vatican officials: Rev. Antonio Spadaro and Andrea Monda, editor of the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano. Spadaro noted that Dylan had wanted to speak with the Pope and that the two met in private for a few minutes.
Dylan's music has been referenced by the Pope before, with Leo quoting an unpublished protest song 'Go Away You Bomb' in his 2026 book 'Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift'. The singer has also shown familiarity with St. Augustine of Hippo, an inspiration to the Pope's spirituality, in his song 'I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine' from the 1967 album John Wesley Harding.
The meeting took place between Dylan's concert dates in Italy, with shows in Milan and Rome on Monday and Thursday, respectively. This encounter marks another notable meeting between Dylan and a Pope, following his performance for Pope John Paul II in 1997.
Read the original story on NPR Music ↗
This is an original summary written by Ricky Box Music based on reporting by NPR Music. All rights to the original story belong to its publisher.
