By Salma El-Sakka
Bob Dylan met with Pope Leo at the Vatican on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, wearing a black coat, black gloves, and a black hooded sweatshirt for the private audience inside the apostolic palace. The 83-year-old musician's casual attire drew immediate attention online, with observers comparing his look to scenes from Star Wars or the Assassin's Creed video game series.
Pope Leo Known as Dylan Fan
Pope Leo, 71, originally from Chicago, is a known admirer of Dylan's work. In a book preface released in July, he quoted lyrics from Dylan's 1963 anti-nuclear protest song "Go Away You Bomb." Both men share roots in the U.S. Midwest. The Vatican's newspaper referred to the singer by his birth name, Robert Allen Zimmerman, noting he was received in private audience.
Meeting Arranged by Vatican Official
Rev. Antonio Spadaro, a Jesuit official known for building relationships between the Church and entertainment figures, said on Instagram he helped arrange the encounter. He described feeling the emotion of an event with "a real sense of history." The Vatican press office has not disclosed what the two discussed during the visit.
