I did not know that Leo XIII was a movie star, but it turns out, he was. Via the Vatican’s new Vatican State website, you can find several moving picture features, of which the first is Leo XIII waving to the camera in a few different settings. That’s all it is, just posed scenes in which he comes in, sits down, and waves to the camera. The date is 1896. It’s pretty cool. He waves to the camera like he’s directing an orchestra or trying to get the camera’s attention, as though it might not see him otherwise.

I sure hope that they’re not holding any Leo films back from us. You know, footage of him signing Libertas praestantissimum or the like that would make traditionalists riot with delight.