On Friday morning, June 14th, Pope Francis met with 100 comedians at the Vatican, some of them prominent figures in U.S. and Western media, to give their thanks and obeisance to the Pope. The comedians in attendance hailed from all over the world, but the majority of them from Italy.
American figures included the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, Chris Rock, Jim Gaffigan, Conan O’Brien, Tig Notaro, Julia Louis Dreyfus, and James Martin, SJ, according to Vatican News.
In a statement to Vatican News, ‘Conan O’Brien joked as he cautioned how risky it is to gather that many comedians together, especially in a privileged place.’
It happens again and again and again, the times that I have been to the White House or in any of these situations, it’s always the same thing: I say, ‘Why am I here? I do not belong,’ and I think that is how a lot of us felt!
A lot of these other American comedians have been my friends for years, Stephen Colbert, Chris Rock, and Jimmy Fallon. I have known these guys for a long time, Jim Gaffigan, Julia Louis Dreyfus…, and we were all looking at each other, like ‘something’s wrong.’
We are in this beautiful, beautiful space in the Vatican, and for some reason, they have let comedians in, which is always a bad idea! Always!
O’Brien told the paper
Dreyfus, best known for her role in the popular American sitcom “Seinfeld,” also told the paper, “What a wonderful man. It is quite evident,” she observed, noting “his wonderful, kind smiling face.”
And I thought his comments were beautiful, actually. I was delighted to be here.
She added
Vatican News cited what some of the American comedians had to say:
Chris Rock and Whoopi Goldberg likewise passed through by the journalists expressing their delight to be with the Pope at such an unprecedented venue.
When Whoopi was asked whether she had asked Pope Francis to be part of a ‘Sister Act III,’ she joked that she hadn’t, but would likely send an email.
Stephen Colbert also reflected on the audience with the Pope, noting that while he was following an English version of the text, he was especially intrigued to understand what the Pope had added in Italian. While Jim Gaffigan, a Catholic comedian, whose sons had a moment with the Pope and received a papal blessing of their rosaries, as well as a chocolate praline, was really moved to be at such a ‘universal’ encounter.
He acknowledged to the reporters that with great differences, especially among the US comedians, several of whom, he noted, are agnostic or atheists, to be together in an atmosphere “of warmth and openness,” with Pope Francis, “was really amazing.”
In a speech to these comedic quests, Francis said they “make God laugh” with their jokes. The official transcript from the Vatican’s website reads:
Dear friends,
It is my pleasure to welcome all of you, and to express my gratitude to those in the Dicastery for Culture and Education who have organized this meeting.
I hold you in high esteem as artists who express yourselves through the language of comedy, humour, and irony. Among all the professionals working in television, cinema, theatre, print media, with songs, and on social media, you are among the most loved, sought after, and popular. Certainly, it is because you are very good at what you do, but there is also another motivation: you have and cultivate the gift of making people laugh.
In the midst of so much gloomy news, immersed as we are in many social and even personal emergencies, you have the power to spread peace and smiles. You are among the few who have the ability to speak to all types of people, from different generations and cultural backgrounds.
In your own way, you unite people, because laughter is contagious. It is easier to laugh together than alone: joy opens us to sharing and is the best antidote to selfishness and individualism. Laughter also helps to break down social barriers, create connections among people, and allows us to express emotions and thoughts, contributing to building a shared culture and creating spaces of freedom. You remind us that homo sapiens is also homo ludens! For playful fun and laughter are central to human life, to express ourselves, to learn, and to give meaning to situations.
Your talent is a precious gift. Together with a smile, it spreads peace in our hearts and among others, helping us to overcome difficulties and cope with everyday stress. It helps us find relief in irony and go through life with humour. I like to pray daily with the words of Saint Thomas More: “Grant me, O Lord, a good sense of humour”. I ask for this grace for every day because it helps me approach things with the right spirit.
You also succeed in bringing about another miracle: you manage to make people smile even while dealing with problems and events, large and small. You denounce abuses of power; you give voice to forgotten situations; you highlight abuses; you point out inappropriate behaviour. You do this without spreading alarm or terror, anxiety or fear, as other types of communication tend to do; you rouse people to think critically by making them laugh and smile. You do this by telling stories of real life, narrating reality from your unique viewpoint; and in this way, you speak to people about problems, large and small.
According to the Bible, at the beginning of the world, while everything was being created, divine wisdom practiced your form of art for the benefit of none other than God himself, the first spectator of history. It is described in this way: “I was beside him, like a master workman; and I was daily hisdelight, rejoicing before him always,rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the sons of men” (Prv 8:30-31). Remember this: when you manage to draw knowing smiles from the lips of even one spectator, you also make God smile.
You, dear artists, know how to think and speak humorously in different forms and styles; and in each case the language of humour is suitable for understanding and “feeling” human nature. Humour does not offend, humiliate, or put people down according to their flaws. While communication today often generates conflict, you know how to bring together diverse and sometimes contrary realities. How much we need to learn from you! The laughter of humour is never “against” anyone, but is always inclusive, purposeful, eliciting openness, sympathy, empathy.
I am reminded of the story in the book of Genesis when God promised Abraham that within a year he would have a son. He and his wife Sarah were old and childless. Sarah listened and laughed inwardly. Abraham must have done the same. However, Sarah conceived and bore a son in her old age, at the time that God had set. Then Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; every one who hears will laugh over me” (Gen 21:6). That is why they named their son Isaac, which means, “he laughs”.
Can we laugh at God? Of course, we can, just as we play and joke with the people we love. The Jewish wisdom and literary tradition is a master in this! It is possible to do this without offending the religious sentiments of believers, especially the poor.
Dear friends, may God bless you and your art. Continue to cheer people up, especially those who have the hardest time looking at life with hope. Help us, with a smile, to see reality with its contradictions, and to dream of a better world! With heartfelt sentiments, I bless you; and I ask you, please, to pray for me.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
Ecclesiastes 7:6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
Ah yes, all the foolish children returning to pay hominage to their adulterous mother who has given them their career and notoriety, that keeps them relevant while pushing the Jesuit’s lies and propaganda in return.
Of course, the hypocrisy from Popey here is not shocking, that he’d remark that these filthy, murderous, mischievous liars and clowns are funny and “make God laugh;” while these same comedians regularly revel in the death of the innocent and unborn.
But more importantly, this once again shows who’s really in charge and whom the leaders and important figures of this world bow down to…
Revelation 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: [2] With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. [4] And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: [5] And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. [18] And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
Proverbs 14:9
Sick, devil-possessed, mockers! These children of iniquity think abortion is funny or a punchline for a joke? Funny as a plane crash!
God’s righteous indignation will fall upon these monsters and God shall have the last laugh. He who laughs last laughs best, and that is ever so true for the Lord.
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 1:32
“I ask you, please, to pray for me.”
If this sock puppet is the vicar of Christ, why does he NEED prayer?! Nowhere in Scripture do we ever see Christ asking for prayer. What a farce!
Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (From the true and only word of God the KJV Bible). God will have their day with them and who be laughing then? ):
God will be laughing, He’ll have the last laugh.
America is doomed!
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.