Pope Francis Meets More Than 100 Comedians At The Vatican: ‘You Also Make God Smile’

Vatican City – On Friday, Pope Francis celebrated the value of humor with a rather unusual audience at the Vatican before taking off for the southern Puglia region of Italy to meet world leaders at the Group of Seven meeting.

The pope welcomed over a hundred comedians from fifteen different countries, including American stars Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock, Stephen Colbert, and Conan O’Brien.

Pope Francis | AP news Image

Pope Francis Meets More Than 100 Comedians At The Vatican: ‘You Also Make God Smile’

Francis addressed the comedians, “You have the potential to transmit peace and laughter in the face of so much bad news, involved as we are in many social and even personal difficulties.

“Laughter is contagious, therefore you unite people,” he said, laughingly adding, “Please pray for me: for, not against!”

As Francis noted, God was delighted in the creation and “Divine wisdom practiced your art for the benefit of none other than God himself, the first spectator in history.”

Just keep this in mind, he said. God grins as well when you can make even one observer smile intelligently.

Pope Francis | AP news Image

Pope Francis Meets More Than 100 Comedians At The Vatican: ‘You Also Make God Smile’

According to Francis, laughing at God was acceptable in the same manner as playing and joking with the ones we love.

Following his address, Francis greeted each comic separately, cracked jokes, and laughed with a few.

Goldberg recalled, “It was fantastic, really loving, and quick. It made me happy.”

Pope Francis “spoke in Italian, so I’m not quite sure what was said,” O’Brien said.

“It was really strange to be in that room with all my fellow comedians, some of whom I’ve been close friends with for many years,” the TV personality said. Every one of us was wondering how this could have happened. When will they toss us out, and why are we here?

Pope Francis | AP news Image

Pope Francis Meets More Than 100 Comedians At The Vatican: ‘You Also Make God Smile’

Colbert said that he might need to improve his Italian. However, he succeeded in reminding the pope that he had produced the audiobook of his autobiography.

“It was amazing, he won’t forget me,” he said.

SOURCE – (AP)