Sawt Falasteen - Pope Leo reels off four favourite films

Leo, the first pope from the United States, picked tearjerkers including Frank Capra's classic 1946 film "It's a Wonderful Life" with James Stewart, in which an angel is sent from heaven to help a desperate family man.

The Chicago-born pontiff said in a video released by the Vatican Wednesday that his other picks include Robert Wise's musical "The Sound of Music" (1965) and Robert Redford's family drama "Ordinary People" (1980).

He finished with Roberto Benigni's "Life Is Beautiful" (1997), about a father trying to shield his son from the horrors of a WWII concentration camp.

The Vatican said Leo had picked "the films that are most significant to him".

Leo, who was elected in May, will hold a special audience Saturday at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace with stars including Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine, Viggo Mortensen, Dave Franco and Monica Bellucci.

Directors including Spike Lee, Judd Apatow, George Miller and Giuseppe Tornatore of "Cinema Paradiso" fame are also expected to attend.

The 70-year-old pontiff hopes "to deepen dialogue with the World of Cinema... exploring the possibilities that artistic creativity offers to the mission of the Church and the promotion of human values," the Vatican said in a statement.

The event is being organised by the Vatican as part of the Catholic Church's Holy Year celebrations.

O.Salim--SF-PST