
Pope Leo XIV holds an audience with Al Pacino
Al Pacino and film producer Andrea Iervolino met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, Iervolino shared on his Instagram page Monday.
Iervolino, who is the producer of the upcoming film 'Maserati: The Brothers,' in which Pacino appears, posted photos on his Instagram page showing himself and Pacino meeting with the new Pontiff in Vatican City.
In a statement to Variety, Iervolino said that they are 'honored to announce that this morning His Holiness Pope Leo XIV received in a private audience at the Holy See a delegation from the film 'Maserati: The Brothers.''
'The meeting was a moment of profound spiritual and cultural inspiration, centered around shared values that lie at the heart of both the Catholic Church and the film: family unity, love, compassion and the importance of contributing to the common good,' the statement continued. 'These values, which Pope Leo XIV has consistently emphasized in his recent messages to the world, resonate deeply with the story of the Maserati brothers: a family whose legacy was built not only on innovation and excellence but on profound mutual respect, solidarity and a shared vision.'
The 'Godfather' star is reportedly set to play Vincenzo Vaccaro, a businessman who invested in the Maserati family's company in its early days. Maserati is an Italy-based luxury car company.
Jessica Alba, Anthony Hopkins, Andy Garcia and Michele Morrone, among others, round out the cast of the Bobby Moresco-directed film, which is filming in Rome.
Pope Leo XIV made history when he was elected as the first American pope last month following the death of Pope Francis. The 69-year-old from Chicago, a former Cardinal named Robert Prevost became the 267th pope on May 8.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The 1000 Miglia 2025 has started
The 430 Classic Cars of the Red Arrow Will Arrive in Ferrara in the Evening. The First Leg Finish Line in San Lazzaro Di Savena BRESCIA, Italy, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The forty-third re-enactment edition of the 1000 Miglia has finally got underway. After the classic parade on the Viale Venezia ramp, packed for the occasion with citizens, tourists, enthusiasts and interested onlookers, all enraptured by the ageless fascination of the 430 four-wheel jewels that this year will cover 1900 kilometres from Brescia to Rome and back, the crews headed straight for the ascent to the Brescia Castle for the first Time Trials of this edition. This was followed by the customary Passage Control with the Village Parade in Piazza Vittoria, the crews' final farewell to the City of the 1000 Miglia, with a promise to return on Saturday 21, the day the crews will arrive. 'Doing the 1000 Miglia in a Bugatti like this is really exciting, it is like going back in time', said Carlo Cracco a few moments before the start from the cockpit of the 1927 Bugatti T 40 in which he will race alongside Ezio Ronzoni. 'At the same time, however, you really enjoy the race, so long live the 1000 Miglia!' These, instead, were the warm words of reigning champion Andrea Vesco, in the hunt for his fifth consecutive victory with Fabio Salvinelli at his side on board the 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS: 'The sensations are positive, the day is beautiful, I was hoping that yesterday's rain would cool things down a bit more but we are prepared, we will still remain fresh and focused'. Crossing the eastern province of Brescia, the convoy headed for Valsabbia for a Passage Control in the centre of Villanuova sul Clisi. The crews then reached the shores of Lake Garda, passing through the villages of the lush Valtenesi area: first Manerba, with a drive along the Olivari lakeside road, with views of Isola dei Conigli, then Moniga, Soiano and Padenghe. Once they reached the Cesare Battisti lakeside road in Desenzano, where the 123 modern Ferraris of the Tribute 1000 Miglia had previously departed, the participants stopped for the third Passage Control of the 1000 Miglia 2025, before completing a series of six Time Trials in Colombare di Sirmione. After stamping their cards in Piazzale Porto, in front of the impressive Castello Scaligero, the convoy headed for Peschiera. Press Office+393316133162 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
‘We will block the canals': Venice divided as young protesters target Bezos wedding
On a sweltering Friday afternoon in June, a group of angry and self-described 'precarious' or underemployed Venetian young people gathered in a square near the foot of Venice's Rialto bridge. It was a call to action against the impending nuptials of billionaire Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez, who will be tying the knot — and tying up the city — later in the month. After struggling at first to hang a massive 'No Space for Bezos' banner, complete with a drawing of his inarguably phallic Blue Origin rocket in the center, a handful of speakers roused the crowd of around 300 Venetians, many of whom were sipping spritzes in takeaway tumblers and smoking hand-rolled cigarettes. Though the details of the Bezos wedding are highly guarded beyond the rumored $10-million budget, several venues, including the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, where the same group managed to hang a No Bezos sign on the bell tower on Thursday, seem to be a given. Also said to be a dead-cert location in central Venice is the 14th century Misericordia, a former school armory that is now an exclusive events venue. It's widely rumored that the main ceremony will take place her on June 28. But not if the protesters get their way. 'Bezos will never get to the Misericordia,' organizer Federica Toninello told the crowd to raucous applause. 'We will block the canals, line the streets with our bodies, block the canals with inflatables, dinghies, boats.' Another speaker, Na Haby Stella Faye, urged those gathered to make sure the wedding would be remembered for their opposition, not Sanchez's reported 27 outfit changes. 'Let's make sure that Venice is not remembered as a postcard venue where Bezos had his wedding but as the city that did not bend to oligarchs,' she said. 'We can't miss a chance to disrupt a $10-million wedding.' Others lamented the arrival of Bezos' $500 million superyacht Koru, and the other luxury leisure boats expected to be docked in the city's ports. There were also complaints about the temporary work big events like this provide, rather than full-time jobs. Bezos' wedding is clearly symbolic of Venice's current problems. Efforts to combat overtourism have resulted in a 10-euro daytripper entrance fee on weekends and peak periods while more residents are pushed out every year due to a dwindling lack of services like schools, hospitals and affordable housing. 'You're telling me none of these people shop on Amazon?' said New Orleans native Jake Springer, who, along with his wife, was spending a weekend in Venice on a wine tour through Italy. 'At least they are protesting peacefully. Americans could learn a thing or two from this.' Protests in Venice may seem like a national pastime, but it's worth noting that they have been incredibly successful in the past. The years-long 'No Grandi Navi' or 'no big ships' campaign of the pre-Covid era was successful in banning giant cruise ships from anywhere near the city center. The restrictions led to widespread changes in cruise itineraries, with many of the major lines switching from Venice as a port of call or embarking point to nearby Ravenna and Trieste. Some, including Norwegian Cruise Line, removed Venice entirely from their itineraries. Protests against Airbnb-style short-term rentals also led to changes in the number of properties an individual can own to rent out. But protesting a millionaire's wedding in a city synonymous with love? To some, 'no grandi matrimoni' or no big weddings, seems cold. Bezos' is hardly the only high-dollar wedding to be held in the city — not least George and Amal Clooney's nuptials in 2014, which were cheered on by locals. So far this year, city officials say three multi-million-dollar weddings have been held without any opposition. Luca Zaia, the head of the surrounding Veneto region, calls the protests a disgrace. 'I want Jeff Bezos to be welcomed with open arms in Venice. Protesting against those who bring visibility and wealth to our territory is, in my opinion, a disgrace,' he said Friday. Venice's mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, said he hoped the protest won't dissuade Bezos and Sanchez from keeping their plans. 'We will have to apologize to Bezos,' Brugnaro told reporters in Venice on Friday. 'I am ashamed of those who behave like this. I hope that Bezos comes anyway. Not all Venetians think like these protesters.' Across town at the Biennale of Architecture, a regular event on the Venice calendar, the sentiment was much more in line with city officials than the protesters. 'It seems ridiculous that a city that lives off tourism like Venice wouldn't want an event like this, which will employ hundreds of people from waiters to water taxi drivers,' Görge Meyer, who was visiting from Berlin, said. 'All the guests and journalists will be staying at hotels, eating at restaurants and spending money. And they want to stop the cash influx?' Gillian Longworth McGuire, an American travel writer and tour planner who moved from Rome to Venice 10 years ago, points out that famous people have been coming to Venice to get married for centuries and wealthy people have been parking their yachts in Venice for decades. 'Venice just doesn't have a clear idea of what it is supposed to be sometimes,' she said. 'Is it a magical place carved out of a lagoon, built by merchants and fishermen, or a bachelorette party and mega wedding venue? 'The ethos of this city was always that it was the crossroads of culture and the world. Venice doesn't need an event like this to prove itself. People will always come no matter who gets married here and who is against it.'


News24
2 hours ago
- News24
‘No space for Bezos': Venice residents protest Amazon founder's upcoming Italian wedding
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's upcoming wedding in Venice from 24 to 26 June has sparked backlash among locals, with a 'No Space for Bezos' collective erecting signs and organising protests. Residents criticise the city's use as a venue for wealthy events, claiming it undermines Venice as a living community. Bezos, also owning space venture Blue Origin, has faced criticism for the environmental impact of his endeavours, fuelling local hostility. Protesters argue against Venice's transformation into a playground for elite celebrations. Residents of Venice, already fed up with crowds of tourists cramming into their canal city, now have one more gripe: Jeff Bezos. The billionaire Amazon founder is due to marry journalist Lauren Sánchez in a celebration in Venice from 24 to 26 June that is expected to attract countless VIPs. Not everyone is feeling the love, though, with some residents hanging a huge banner with an X over Bezos's name on a belltower overlooking the Venice lagoon before the sign was removed on Thursday. 'He's not welcome, not in Venice, not anywhere!' wrote the 'No Space for Bezos' collective on Facebook, which was responsible for the banner. Bezos is also the owner of space travel company Blue Origin, whose all-female flight in April carrying Sánchez, pop star Katy Perry and four others met with a public backlash for its high cost and environmental impact. The anti-Bezos group, whose posters and stickers have been seen in recent days across the city, has called a public assembly for Friday evening to drum up opposition. The UNESCO-listed city, famous for its romantic gondolas and canals, is a favourite spot for lovers. In September 2014, it was the backdrop for the wedding of Hollywood actor George Clooney and human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, a glamourous high-profile event that attracted countless tourists, fans and onlookers. The atmosphere ahead of Bezos's nuptials appeared more hostile. 'Venice is a living city, not a place to rent to the highest bidder,' the collective wrote on social media. AFP Venice's mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, had welcomed the couple's decision, however, saying in March that the wedding would bring in millions of dollars to the city. City hall in March blasted 'fake news' circulating about the wedding, saying that only 200 people were on the guest list and that the event would be 'without any disruption whatsoever to the city, its residents and visitors'. Local media say that five hotels have been reserved for the occasion, as well as an impressive fleet of water cabs and a mooring for Bezos's megayacht. It is unclear where exactly the marriage ceremony will take place.