Pope Leo XIV has hosted legendary American-singer-songwriter Bob Dylan at his official residence in the Vatican, ahead of the musician’s scheduled performance in Rome.
The brief meeting took place on Wednesdayat the Apostolic Palace during Dylan’s Italian tour, Vatican News reported.
Dylan, 85, arrived in an almost entirely blackoutfit, wearing a hooded top and gloves and carrying an umbrella. His appearance contrasted with the Pope’s white vestments.
Both men were born in the American Midwest.
During the meeting, Leo presented Dylan witha rosary, while the singer gave the Pope a copyof his autobiography, Chronicles: Volume One.
The visit came a day before Dylan’s scheduled performance at the Palazzo dello Sport in Romeas part of his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour.
The meeting also reflected the Pope’s previous references to Dylan’s music.
Leo quoted the singer’s unreleased anti-nuclear song, Go Away You Bomb, in the preface to hisbook, Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift.
The Pope included the lyric, “I hate you cause yerman-made and man-owned, an’ man-handled,” in a warning against rearmament.
Dylan wrote the song in 1963 during the ColdWar, but never recorded it.
According to the New York Times, its type written lyrics remained unpublished until 2013, when they were discovered and put up for auction.
Wednesday’s meeting was the second timeDylan had met a pope.
In 1997, he performed before Pope John Paul IIand about 300,000 young people at the 23rd National Eucharistic Congress in Bologna.
Dylan performed four songs, including Knockin’on Heaven’s Door. He reportedly climbed onto the stage during the performance to shake handswith John Paul II and exchange a few words.
The late Pope also quoted Dylan’s song Blowin’in the Wind during his sermon to the crowd.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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