“When you make others laugh, God smiles,” Pope Francis told over one hundred comedians from around the world as they gathered for a private audience in the Vatican. The group included both up-and-coming comedians and household names.

Speaking in the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father emphasized the precious gift of humor, urging the comedians to use it to uplift and inspire, rather than to mock or offend. He noted that their gift has the power to help others overcome difficulties and cope with daily stress. “You manage to make people smile, even when dealing with problems,” he said. Some of the attendees included Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock, and Conan O’Brien, who spoke to EWTN News right after the audience.

“We were told he is coming, he is coming, he is coming, he is coming,” Conan O’Brien said, “and then everything gets very quiet and then he walks into the room. He gave a speech.”

When asked by Colm Flynn if this was his first time at the Vatican, Conan responded, “First time. He gave me a rosary and I am going to give it to my mom.”

Another attendee was Stephen Colbert, host of “The Late Show,” who said he often thinks of his faith when doing his job.

“It is in the back of my mind all the time,” he said.

“Not the front of my mind,” Colbert continued. “The front of my mind is what the joke is. But at a certain point, the back of the mind, you have to say, ‘Do I want to tell that joke?,’ and does that go with everything else that you are, besides a comedian, and you know, because, especially doing satire, political satire, you are dancing with a knife in your hand a lot, and you want to be careful who and what you cut. So it was lovely to hear the Pope acknowledge that there is value in that for people’s hearts, and that made me think a little harder about how I want to use it.”

“God bless you and your art,” the Pope concluded.

Adapted by Jacob Stein