Pope Leo XIII

Pope Leo XIII

1810-03-02
93 (1903-07-20)

Head of the Catholic Church from 1878 until his death.

N/A

Head of the Catholic Church from 1878 until his death.

Most Known for...

Movie Picture

Pope Leo XIII Being Seated Bestowing Blessing 1900 (5)

Probably the first video of a Pope: Leo XIII sits in his chair with guards and attendants, then blesses the viewers.
Movie Picture

Pope Leo XIII Leaving Carriage and Being Ushered Into Garden, No. 104 1898 (4.8)

Film produced by William K. Dickson’s British Mutoscope and Biograph Company.
Movie Picture

Pope Leo XIII in His Carriage 1898 (4)

Filmmaker WKL Dickson, one-time right hand man to Thomas Edison, the 'Wizard of Menlo Park', here captures an even greater eminence, Pope Leo XIII. This was one of a series of films that exploited Dickson's unique, hard-won access to the Pontiff. Here the Pope arrives in a carriage and bestows a blessing. Whether this blessing was intended for the camera or for the audience beyond it, capturing it on film was a great prize for Dickson.