Bob Dylan has met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in Rome, with the legendary singer-songwriter visiting the pontiff during a break in his Italian concert schedule.
The brief encounter saw the two exchange gifts, with Pope Leo presenting Dylan with a rosary and the musician giving the Pope a copy of his autobiography, Chronicles: Volume One.
Pope Leo XIV previously quoted an unreleased Bob Dylan song
The meeting follows the Pope’s reference to one of Dylan’s lesser-known compositions in his 2026 book, Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift.
Pope Leo quoted a line from Dylan’s 1963 unpublished protest song, which addresses the threat of nuclear weapons.
I hate you cause yer man-made and man-owned, an’ man-handled.
The reference provides an interesting connection between the two, given Dylan’s long history of writing about war, politics, religion and social issues.
Bob Dylan previously performed for Pope John Paul II
This was not Dylan’s first encounter with a leader of the Catholic Church. In 1997, he performed for Pope John Paul II at a religious congress in Bologna, Italy.
Dylan, who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016, remains one of the most influential singer-songwriters of his generation.
Who is Pope Leo XIV?
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, was elected in May 2025, becoming the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church.
The Vatican spokesperson described the meeting with Dylan as brief, confirming the exchange of gifts between the musician and the pontiff.
