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Television mogul Oprah Winfrey and actor Matt Damon are among media players believed to have been approached to attend a special meeting at the Vatican.
According to an article in the Hollywood Reporter, Pope Francis is “apparently” interested in discussing how the Church is perceived by western media influencers.
The Pope also reportedly wants to explore ways in which the Church’s portrayal in popular entertainment can be improved.
These reasons have been denied by some of those reportedly involved.
The meeting is believed to be in the northern autumn.
The Vatican, which is said to be working with the non-profit Varkey Foundation, came up with a list of Hollywood players to invite this gathering.
Other “names” reportedly on the invitee shortlist include “super agent” Ari Emanuel, film and television producer Brian Grazer, and magnate David Geffen.
A Varkey Foundation spokesman said the foundation “has been in discussions with representatives of the Vatican about a potential meeting examining the role of media on the values of young people throughout the world”.
But the spokesman added that “the meeting under consideration is emphatically not a discussion about the reputation of the Catholic Church and never has been”.
“Recent media speculation about the purpose and possible participants of such a meeting is inaccurate and premature,” he said.
Earlier this year, Pope Francis told an Argentine newspaper that he hadn’t watched TV since 1990, after making a promise to the Virgin Mary.
“I told myself: ‘It’s not for me’,” Francis said.
The Pope said that he doesn’t surf the internet either, and reads only one newspaper for ten minutes in the morning.
Sources
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News category: World.
