Rabat – Moroccan standup comedian and actor Gad Elmaleh was received yesterday in the Vatican for a meeting with Pope Francis.
Elmaleh announced his meeting with the pope on Saturday in an Instagram post to his fans.
“Today, December 23, 2022, I had the honor and immense joy of meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican,” the post reads.
Describing his encounter with the pope, the Moroccan star said that it is “a moment that will remain engraved in my heart and my memory.”
Attached to the post were a number of pictures of Gad Elmaleh with the pope inside an office in the Vatican. The two are seen holding a poster to the actor’s latest movie “Reste un Peu” (Stay a Little) which he directs and stars in.
View this post on Instagram
“After showing him images of ‘Reste un Peu’ we talked about fraternity between peoples and interreligious dialogue,” the post adds.
“I was very touched by this great man, simple, humble, and radiant. A great inspiration whatever our religion,” the post continues. “A moment of sharing, love, and humor. Happy holidays to all.”
Gad Elmaleh’s latest film stirred controversy as it reflects his Jewish roots and expresses his fascination with the Catholic faith.
Widely viewed as representing the Jewish community in France where he grew up, fans especially took issue with the theme of the movie, saying that the film was a “coming out” of Elmaleh converting to Christianity.
The film depicts Elmaleh’s struggle with identity issues growing up within a Moroccan-Jewish family, with an early tendency to embrace Christianity.
Read Also: Comedian Gad Elmalah Acknowledges Plagiarism Accusations “Partly True”
