‘Incredible Hulk’ Star Lou Ferrigno Meets Pope Leo XIV

Michelle Stein Thu, October 1, 2026 at 3:37 PM UTC

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Pope Leo, Lou Ferrigno - Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Incredible Hulk star Lou Ferrigno recently met with Pope Leo XIV, a dream of his since childhood.

On Wednesday, September 30, Ferrigno, 74, had the opportunity to speak with American Pope Leo, 71, formerly Robert Francis Prevost. The Incredible Hulk actor met with the Catholic religious leader at the end of his general audience in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

“I’m here because it’s a lifelong dream for me to meet the pope,” Ferrigno told reporters, per the . “Because my family comes from Amalfi, Italy. So I grew up, I was a little boy, and got to hear so much about the Pope because being Catholic myself.”

The Bruce Banner star continued, “I’m very, very honored to be here to see Pope Leo, because it’s my whole life, it’s a dream coming true.”

During the Rome meeting, Ferrigno posed for photos, even flexing his arm muscles as the Hulk did when he transformed into the green Marvel character.

Ferrigno added, “Our world, our country needs someone like him: A great leader about kindness and peace, because there’s so much turmoil happening in this world,” he said.

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After two pilot movies in 1977, The Incredible Hulk aired for five seasons from 1978 to 1982. After that, the pro-bodybuilder-turned-actor reprised his role in The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988), The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989), and The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990).

Additionally, Ferrigno made cameos as a security guard in Hulk (2003) and The Incredible Hulk (2008). He also provided vocals and growling effects for The Hulk in The Avengers (2012) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).

Ferrigno opened up about getting cast as The Hulk in 1977, during a June interview with Free Press Houston,

“They were filming the Incredible Hulk pilot. Richard Kiel was supposed to play the Hulk, but the director came on the set one day and said it’s not the Hulk. Richard Kiel was tall, but he wasn’t muscular enough,” he explained.

Ferrigno added, “The Hulk was supposed to be muscular. They did a nationwide casting call and found me. I did a screen test to show emotion, and the rest is history.”

The Incredible Hulk, streaming on Tubi

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”