Jimmy Fallon Describes the "Overwhelming" Experience of Meeting Pope Francis
The Tonight Show Host was proud to say "I made him laugh," and explained why the group of comedians he traveled with were invited there.
As a longtime entertainer and Host of The Tonight Show, it would be easy to believe Jimmy Fallon has met every well-known person in the world. But on June 14, 2024, Fallon experienced a uniquely "overwhelming" meeting: A visit to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis.
When he'd returned to New York City, Fallon recounted how he wound up meeting Pope Francis, who died on April 21, 2025 at age 88. "I don't know how to describe it. It was — it was overwhelming," he said. "I didn't know what to expect."
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Why did Jimmy Fallon meet Pope Francis?
Fallon was invited to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis in a party that included over 100 comedians, according to CNN. In addition to the Tonight Show Host, the pontiff met with comedy luminaries including Jim Gaffigan, Conan O'Brien, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris Rock, and Tig Notaro.
As Fallon described it on The Tonight Show, he was officially invited via his late night colleague Stephen Colbert.
On the call, Fallon said Colbert told him, 'Hey, the Pope wants to meet comedians. Would you want to meet the Pope?' I go, 'Of course. I would love to.' And then, I just never asked about it until I got an e-mail, and it was official: 'The pope wants to meet you.'
Told he could bring one person, Fallon chose his sister Gloria.
Pope Francis wanted to thank comedians for "putting a smile on people's face during dark times"
After getting through what was understandably "crazy security," Fallon admitted he wasn't sure how things were going to go. He said the meeting occurred at "6:45 in the morning."
"No one really tells you how to talk to the Pope," Fallon joked. "How do you address him? Do you kiss the ring? I got more instruction on how to meet Barbra Streisand than I did how to meet the Pope: 'Sand, like sand on the beach, not 'zand'."
"I see Chris Rock, and we're just like, 'What? This is so wild.' And, of course, I feel like a class clown, and I want to do bits — and my sister's like, 'Stop it, stop it, don't do it. Don't do anything.'
But then, "all these security guards came out, and I go, 'Oh, my gosh, we got thrown out of the Vatican,'" Fallon joked. It was actually Pope Francis arriving to speak to his guests. "So the Pope came out, sat down, and just wanted to thank comedians for making people laugh and putting a smile on people's face during dark times. And it was the nicest thing."
The group that included Fallon received a papal blessing, "and everyone got to shake the Pope's hand" — with Fallon proudly adding, "I made him laugh."
Jimmy Fallon was an altar boy growing up
During his brief meeting with the pontiff, Fallon let him know he'd served as an altar boy as a kid. "I said, 'If you ever need someone to ring the bells, call me.'"
"It was definitely something I'll never forget," Fallon said, after demonstrating a Spanish-language bit he claimed he'd considered doing in front of the Argentina-born Pope. "I want to thank the Dicastery for Culture and Education at the Vatican. Want to thank Stephen Colbert, who got me the invite — and of course, I want to thank His Holiness for bringing us together and for recognizing comedians. It was such an honor."
Pope Francis's full address to the comedians is available to read here.
"In your own way, you unite people, because laughter is contagious," Pope Francis said in his June 2024 remarks. "It is easier to laugh together than alone: joy opens us to sharing and is the best antidote to selfishness and individualism. Laughter also helps to break down social barriers, create connections among people, and allows us to express emotions and thoughts, contributing to building a shared culture and creating spaces of freedom."
In the hours following the pontiff's death after Easter Sunday, NBC News reported that world leaders around the globe, and those personally touched by Pope Francis in life, shared condolences and memorials. Those included Fallon himself, who shared the photo of his meeting with Pope Francis in an April 21 Instagram post.
"It was an honor meeting Pope Francis last summer," Fallon wrote in his caption. "I’m glad I made you laugh. Thank you for your encouraging words. Rest in peace."
