No evidence Bob Dylan said, 'Pope Francis was a voice of mercy in a time of noise'
In the days after Pope Francis' death on April 21, 2025, a rumor began to spread that singer and songwriter Bob Dylan said the late pontiff "was a voice of mercy in a time of noise."
For example, a Facebook user posted the alleged quote on April 21 (archived):
Pope Francis was a voice of mercy in a time of noise. He walked with humility, spoke with fire and dared to love the unloved. He reminded the world that compassion isn't weakness and faith doesn't have to shout to be heard. May he rest in the eternal peace he so often preached.
The quote, attributed to Dylan, appeared elsewhere on Facebook and at the top of an opinion column by Chris Kelly in the Scranton Times-Tribune on April 22, the day after Francis died (the newspaper later removed the quote).
Snopes readers both emailed and searched the website inquiring about the veracity of Dylan's alleged tribute to the pope.
However, a Google search for the exact quote did not return any evidence that Dylan had said or written those words. Neither did a search of Dylan's various social media feeds or his website.
Snopes reached out to the firm that represents Dylan to ask whether the musician may have said the quote, and we will update this story should they respond.
There remained the possibility that Dylan may have mentioned the pope on stage. On the evening of April 21, the day of Francis' death, Dylan performed in Pittsburgh. Snopes contacted two journalists who attended and reviewed the show.
"I started walking out during the last song to meet my deadline," said Scott Mervis of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "If he said that, he hadn't said it yet."
"He definitely didn't address the pope's passing during Monday night's show in Pittsburgh," said Mike Palm of Trib LIVE, a news outlet that covers western Pennsylvania.
'Chris Kelly Opinion: As an Example, Pope Francis Lives On'. Scranton Times-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025, https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/2025/04/22/chris-kelly-opinion-as-an-example-pope-francis-lives-on/.
Mervis, Scott. 'Review: Bob Dylan Show Is a Piece of Rough and Rowdy Cabaret at the Benedum'. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 21 Apr. 2025, https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2025/04/21/review-bob-dylan-pittsburgh-benedum-rough-and-rowdy-ways/stories/202504210075.
Palm, Mike. 'Bob Dylan's Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour Creates Memorable Night in Pittsburgh'. Trib LIVE, 22 Apr. 2025, https://triblive.com/aande/music/bob-dylans-rough-and-rowdy-ways-tour-creates-memorable-night-in-pittsburgh/.
The Official Bob Dylan Site. https://www.bobdylan.com/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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