Comedian Roberto Benigni pitches Pope Francis' book on mercy
Italian actor Roberto Benigni, far right, takes a copy of Pope Francis' book "The Name of God is Mercy" as he arrives during a news conference for the launch of the book at the Vatican on January 12, 2016. Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
*Editors: This photo may only be republished with RNS-POPE-BENIGNI, originally transmitted on Jan. 12, 2016.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The actor who won an Oscar for an improbable comedy about the Holocaust brought his signature blend of humor and seriousness to the Vatican to help his hero, the pope.