Naomi Campbell's Bold Pope Gift Surprise
Naomi Campbell’s Surprising Gift to Pope Leo XIV
Naomi Campbell, the renowned British supermodel, recently made headlines when she presented a unique gift to Pope Leo XIV during a special event at the Vatican. The 55-year-old fashion icon was in attendance at the weekly general audience held in St. Peter's Square, where pilgrims and visitors gather to receive the Papal Blessing.
The event took place on a Wednesday, as is customary when the Pope is in Rome. Among the attendees was Naomi, who was captured in several photographs alongside the religious leader. In one of the images, she approached the Pope, shook his hand, and then handed him a copy of the book La Via delle Spezie, translated as The Spice Route.
The book, authored by Irina, is a historical exploration of the role spices have played in the evolution of food. Irina runs a business that specializes in selling teas and spices from around the world. Her website describes her journey: “I’m Irina, the girl behind La Via delle Spezie. For years I’ve travelled the world, visiting traditional markets and distant lands in search of the most authentic and precious spices and teas. Every product you find at my stand is the fruit of encounters, traditions, and a love of discovery. Take a piece of these stories home with you.”
After presenting the book, Naomi, who was dressed in a white shirt and black dress suit, along with holding rosary beads, posed for a photograph with the Pope and several other individuals. Despite not being raised Catholic, Naomi has spoken about her relationship with religion in the past.
Naomi was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, but her mother, Valerie, once mentioned that her daughter “had to choose her own faith.” She later embraced Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism. In 2010, she told Interview magazine, “I study Kabbalah because it takes me to a positive, calm place. That’s what I use it for, and it helps me a lot. I’ve been in and out of Kabbalah since around 2000. It’s just something I have taken more seriously [recently].”
However, she also shared, “We’re all looking for positivity in our lives and looking towards the light, but I just believe in God. I am religious. I pray most days and do my thing. But each to their own.”
In 2015, Naomi expressed her desire to meet Pope Francis, calling it a bucket list item. She said, “I just keep saying ‘I want to meet the Pope’ and then someone said ‘do you want to come?’ and I said ‘yeah!’ But I didn’t want to meet him in America, I wanted to meet him in his home. I think this Pope is absolutely amazing.”
After Pope Francis passed away in April, Naomi shared an Instagram post paying tribute to him: “Couldn’t be in Rome without paying my respects to Pope Francis. A moment of deep gratitude before departing. You are so missed. Heartfelt, reverent, and full of longing.🙏🏾”
This week, it was announced that the current Pope, who is from Chicago and the first pope from the United States, will welcome a string of celebrities to the Vatican. On Saturday, he will hold a special audience at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, which will be attended by notable figures such as Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine, Viggo Mortensen, Alison Brie, Dave Franco, and Monica Bellucci.
Oscar-winning directors Spike Lee and George Miller are also expected to attend the event, organized by the Vatican’s culture office as part of the Catholic Church’s ongoing Holy Year celebrations. The Pope has expressed a desire to deepen dialogue with the world of cinema, exploring how artistic creativity can support the Church’s mission and promote human values.
Last week, the Pope met with Robert De Niro, who was honored with the Lipa Capitolina, the top honor in the city of Rome. In June, he also met Al Pacino, marking the first reported official audience between the first American pope and a movie star.
This week, the Vatican shared a video of the Pope online, in which he listed his four favorite films of all time: It’s a Wonderful Life by Frank Capra, The Sound of Music by Robert Wise, Ordinary People by Robert Redford, and Life Is Beautiful by Roberto Benigni.
Last year, Pope Francis hosted an event at the Vatican for comedians including late-night hosts Conan O’Brien, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Fallon.
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