Music legend Smith met with Pope Leo at the Apostolic Palace durng a private Vatican audience. Accompanied by Rev. Antonio Spadaro, the Chicago-born artist engaged in a 40-minute conversation centered on music and shared visions.
A 40-minute dialogue in the Apostolic Palace
Music legend Smith held a private audience with Pope Leo at the Apostolic Palace this week. The meeting, which lasted approximately 40 minutes, was described by Rev.. Antonio Spadaro as a deep connection between two Chicago natives. According to the report, the encounter felt less like a formal diplomatic event and more like a conversation between old friends sharing dreams and visions.
The setting for this exchange was the Pope's own desk, providing an intimate backdrop for the discussion. Spadaro, who serves as the undersecretary in the Vatican's culture ministry, accompanied Smith during the session. On Instagram, Smith described the encounter as a moment that "shall forever produce a smile." This meeting follows a busy week for the Pontiff, who also attended a concert by tenor Andrea Bocelli on Wednesday.
From the Venice Biennale to the Pope's desk
Smith’s presence at the Vatican is not a sudden development but the result of a growing cultural relationship. earlier this year, on May 8, she performed during the inauguration of the Holy See's Pavilion at the Venice Biennale contemporary art fair. This performance coincided with the anniversary of Pope Leo's election, further cementing her role as a musical bridge to the Holy See.
The connection between Smith and the Vatican is facilitated largely through her friendship with Rev. Antonio Spadaro. Through this relationship, Smith has become a visible figure within the Vatican's cultural sphere. Her involvement in high-profile events like the Venice Biennale demonstrates a strategic intersection of global music and religious institutionality.
The legacy of Pope Francis and the 1979 'Wave' connection
Smith’s affinity for the Papacy is rooted in a long history of musical tribute. In 1979, she released the tune "Wave," which depicts a fictional conversation with Pope John Paul I following his brief 33-day papacy. This historical connection highlights a career-long fascination with the intersection of music and Catholic leadership.
Beyond her past tributes, Smith has expressed a deep admiration for the humanity of the late Pope Francis. Although she is not Catholic, she noted a particular draw to Francis's gentle and steadfast nature. Following his death on April 21, 2025, Smith shared a poem on social media comparing the former Pope to a humble yet strong dandelion.
The gap between Spadaro's praise and Smith's own words
While the meeting was characterized by warmth, the report focuses heavily on the positive sentiment shared by Spadaro. The source provides a detailed account of the undersecretary's perspective on the "memories woven from words and music," but it offers limited direct commentary from Smith regarding the specific theological or cultural goals of her visit.
Additionally, the source does not clarify how Smith's non-Catholic status influences her ongoing collaborations with the Vatican's culture ministry. While her presence at the Venice Biennale and her audience with Pope Leo are well-documented, the long-term implications of this secular-religious partnership remain an open question for observers of Vatican diplomacy.
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