Bob Dylan presents Pope with copy of autobiography during meeting at Vatican

Bob Dylan gave the Pope a copy of his autobiography during a meeting at the Vatican.Leo, 71, hosted the American singer-songwriter, 85, at his official residence, the Apostolic Palace, on Wednesday.Dylan wore an all-black outfit, which included a hoodie with the hood up, as he was pictured shaking hands with the Pope.The pair – who both hail from the US Midwest – each presented the other with a gift.While Leo gave Dylan a rosary, the musician presented his host with Chronicles: Volume One – his autobiography which was first published in 2004.The Vatican News called their meeting “brief”, adding it “consisted of greetings and a few light-hearted exchanges”.It came as Dylan was in Rome for the Italian leg of his Rough And Rowdy Ways tour.He will perform at the Palazzo dello Sport on Thursday.Earlier this year, the Pope referenced Dylan in his own work, quoting the singer’s unreleased 1963 anti-nuclear song, Go Away You Bomb, in the preface of his book titled Disarmed And Disarming: Peace Is a Gift.“I hate you cause yer man-made and man-owned, an’ man-handled,” was the line quoted in the book, which acted as a warning to the world against rearmament.Dylan previously met Pope John Paul II in 1997, when he was invited to perform in front of him and an estimated 300,000 young people for the 23rd National Eucharistic Congress in Bologna.During the performance, Dylan played four songs including Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door, with the then-Pope quoting his song Blowin’ In The Wind in his sermon to the crowd.Since being elected to the role in May 2025, Pope Leo has met with a string of famous actors, musicians, directors and cultural figures.Bob Dylan will perform in the UK this year (Gareth Fuller/PA)PA ArchiveThey have also included Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Spike Lee, Matthew McConaughey and Naomi Campbell.Dylan is set to embark on a UK tour, which will include five dates at the Royal Festival Hall in London in December.He will also perform two dates at Blackpool Opera House, along with gigs at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, Birmingham’s BP Pulse Live and Bournemouth’s BIC Windsor Hall.Read MoreThe gigs will be phone and camera free, with attendees being required to put their mobiles in Yondr pouches outside the performance area.Dylan is one of the most acclaimed songwriters of all time, winning 10 Grammys and being nominated on a 38 further occasions.The singer has had six UK top 10 singles and nine UK number one albums.He began his career in 1962 with the single Mixed-Up Confusion, which failed to chart in the UK and US.But he shot to stardom with a string of successful singles in 1965, including The Times They Are A-Changin’, Subterranean Homesick Blues, and Like A Rolling Stone.