Bob Dylan met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Wednesday during a break in the singer-songwriter’s concert dates in Italy. The brief visit brought together two well-known American figures whose public work has included themes of faith, peace and protest.

Vatican News said the meeting took place at the Apostolic Palace and consisted of greetings and a few lighthearted exchanges. CNN and the Associated Press also reported the visit.

The meeting had a musical connection: Pope Leo previously referenced an unpublished Dylan protest song from 1963 in his 2026 book, “Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift,” according to AP. The pope has spoken publicly about peace and the church’s opposition to nuclear weapons.

Dylan, who is continuing a run of Italian performances, has kept a relatively private public profile during his long career. The Vatican did not announce a longer program or any joint appearance following the visit.

The encounter is notable as a rare meeting between the Nobel Prize-winning musician and the pope, and as an unusual cultural moment linking Dylan’s protest-song legacy with Leo’s public messages on peace.

Sources: Associated Press; CNN, via KESQ; Vatican News.