Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor and former California
governor, speaks in the presence of Pope Leo XIV during
the opening session of an international conference
celebrating the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical
‘Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home,’ at the
Mariapolis Center in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, October 1,
2025. Photo: CNS/Pablo Esparza. It was a surreal sight: Pope Leo and Arnold Schwarzenegger sharing the same stage. The serene successor of St Peter beside the muscled action hero from The Terminator movies — an unlikely duo, yet together they opened the Raising Hope conference at Castel Gandolfo with strength and conviction. The conference was organised by the Laudato…
