The meeting took place on Wednesday, November 4, at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. Dylan, who is currently in Italy for his music tour, was photographed meeting the pontiff while wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black gloves and dark clothing.

The brief encounter reportedly included greetings and lighthearted exchanges. Pope Leo presented Dylan with a rosary, while the celebrated musician gifted the pontiff a copy of his autobiography, Chronicles: Volume One.

The meeting comes months after Pope Leo referenced Dylan’s 1963 anti-nuclear protest song, “Go Away You Bomb,” in the preface to a book titled Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift. The song, which was never officially recorded or released, addresses the dangers of nuclear weapons and war.

Dylan’s visit also carries historical significance, as it is not his first encounter with a pope. In 1997, he performed before Pope John Paul II during a major religious gathering in Bologna, Italy, where thousands of young people attended.



The Nobel Prize-winning musician is currently touring Italy as part of his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour, with a scheduled performance in Rome following his Vatican visit.

The encounter has attracted attention from music and religious communities, bringing together two influential American figures whose lives and work have had a lasting impact on culture and society.