Pope Francis, who died on Monday (April 21) at 88, will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of the Catholic Church.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis was the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff to inherit the sovereign of the Vatican City. He became head of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013 and, throughout the years until his death, sought to make the institution more inclusive.
Several artists — from Andrea Bocelli to Bono, Katy Perry, J Balvin and Sting — have met His Holiness since his papacy began. Balvin met Pope Francis at a summit organized by the Vitae Global Foundation in 2022. “Always vibing high, tolerance and love,” Balvin captioned his Instagram post at the time, which included a video and selfies with Francis.
Meanwhile, Bocelli met the pope after performing with the Voices of Haiti children’s choir in August 2017. The Italian tenor took to social media to honor Francis’ legacy after the news of his death.
“Beyond the profound sorrow of an absence that weighs upon us—and will continue to do so, leaving us all in a more silent solitude—what we feel for him is a gratitude of the deepest and most enduring kind,” Bocelli wrote Monday. “Since its inception, the Andrea Bocelli Foundation has found in Pope Francis a guiding star, illuminating our path. From the very first audience in 2013, we humbly laid before him our intentions, and his words comforted and urged us forward.”
Here are artists and musicians who met with Pope Francis over the years.
When they met: The Italian tenor shared time with Pope Francis first in 2015, and then again in 2017.
Where they met: In 2015, Francis and Bocelli met during a meeting in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. Two years later, Bocelli performed with the Voices of Haiti children’s choir in the Vatican’s Pope Paul VI hall.
When they met: May 2022
Where they met: The U2 frontman met with Pope Francis to discuss climate change during an event at Rome’s Pontifical Urban University.
“Girls’ education is a superpower in fighting extreme poverty and I would like to ask His Holiness if he thinks that women and girls play the same powerful role in tackling the climate crisis,” Bono asked Francis during the event. The Pope responded, “We usually speak of ‘Mother Earth,’ not ‘Father Earth.’ Also, as I told you earlier, from the moment of the apple (in the Garden of Eden), they are in charge.”
When they met: March 2019
Where they met: Vatican City
“I am honored to have been appointed by His Holiness Pope Francis as an ambassador of his foundation Scholas Occurrentes for Mexico,” the Mexican singer wrote on social media at the time. “I am honored to have been considered by him to join his wonderful cause.”
When they met: At a summit organized by the Vitae Global Foundation in May 2022
Where they met: Vatican City
“Always vibing high, tolerance and love,” Balvin captioned his Instagram post, which included photos and videos of the two men together.
When they met: September 2015
Where they met: The Colombian singer-songwriter performed for Pope Francis as a part of the World Meeting of Families.
“Deeply honored by the invitation to sing for Pope Francis,” Juanes wrote in Spanish on X about their meeting at the time.
When they met: United to Cure conference on cancer research in April 2018
Where they met: Vatican City
“I’m such a big fan of Pope Francis. It’s a combination of compassion, humility, sternness and refusal. He is rebel — a rebel for Jesus,” Perry told Vogue Australia about Pope Francis that year. “He is bringing the church back to humility and connecting with people. He’s very humble and not frivolous.”
When they met: Benefit Christmas concert in 2017
Where they met: Vatican City
When they met: The Argentine duo greeted Pope Francis in 2014.
Where they met: Vatican City
When they met: January 2020
Where they met: Spanish star Raphael participated in a mass that Pope Francis celebrated.
“I had the pleasure of knowing him from Buenos Aires when he was a bishop and as I know he likes tangos very much, I brought him tangos sung by me,” Raphael said in 2020, according to a Spanish media outlet.
When they met: March 2019
Where they met: Vatican City
“I thank God for this great blessing,” Yatra wrote on social media in 2019. “I had the opportunity to meet the Holy Father and share a few words with him. I am very happy to announce that I am an ambassador of Pope Francis’ Scholas Foundation.”
When they met: August 2018
Where they met: Sting and his wife greeted Pope Francis during a weekly general audience at Paul VI Hall in Vatican City.
“Pope Francis is a true rock star!” the rocker gushed on Facebook after meeting the pope. “A genuine charisma that filled the room.”