By — Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/pope-leo-xiv-welcomes-bob-dylan-to-the-vatican-in-a-brief-visit Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pope Leo XIV welcomes Bob Dylan to the Vatican in a brief visit Arts Nov 4, 2026 6:06 PM EST VATICAN CITY (AP) — Bob Dylan came knockin' on Pope Leo XIV' s door Wednesday, as the American singer-songwriter and poet visited with the American pope at the Vatican during a break between concert dates in Italy. The Vatican said the encounter was brief, with Leo giving Dylan a rosary and Dylan presenting the pope with a copy of his autobiography, "Chronicles: Volume One." READ MORE: Kennedy Center names 2026 honorees as Trump renovation battle moves show offsite Leo had quoted from an unpublished protest song Dylan penned in 1963, "Go Away You Bomb," in his 2026 book "Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift." Leo was warning against the race to rearm and the recourse to nuclear weapons and quoted the lyric, addressed to a hypothetical atomic bomb: "I hate…
Pope Leo XIV welcomes Bob Dylan to the Vatican in a brief visit
In short
The private audience took place on Wednesday while Bob Dylan paused between his Italian concert dates in Milan and Rome. During the exchange, the pontiff presented Dylan with a rosary, and the American songwriter reciprocated by gifting a copy of his autobiography, "Chronicles: Volume One." The two figures share notable connections, including Pope Leo's citation of Dylan's music in his 2026 book and Dylan's historic lyrical interest in St. Augustine. Dylan was accompanied by Vatican culture ministry official Rev. Antonio Spadaro and L'Osservatore Romano editor Andrea Monda.
Key points
- Pope Leo XIV previously demonstrated an interest in Bob Dylan by citing the unpublished 1…: Pope Leo XIV previously demonstrated an interest in Bob Dylan by citing the unpublished 1963 song "Go Away You Bomb" in a 2026 book.
- The meeting marked Bob Dylan's second papal encounter following his 1997 performance befo…: The meeting marked Bob Dylan's second papal encounter following his 1997 performance before Pope John Paul II in Bologna.
- Bob Dylan's prior work drew inspiration from St. Augustine, the very religious figure who…: Bob Dylan's prior work drew inspiration from St. Augustine, the very religious figure who inspired Pope Leo XIV's religious order.