Where To Find The Pope’s Gandalf Quote In The Lord Of The Rings

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Pope Leo XIV recently released an encyclical letter, Magnifica Humanitas, addressing the growing presence of artificial intelligence and the need to stay true to our human qualities in this digital age. While the letter is quite detailed, a specific quote has resonated with fans of The Lord of the Rings. In the fifth chapter, titled “The Culture of Power and the Civilization of Love,” the Pope includes a quote from Gandalf within a section focused on building a more loving society.

The Pope introduced the quote by explaining that J.R.R. Tolkien offered a powerful observation about our duty as people—our responsibility to ourselves, to each other, to future generations, to our communities, and to the Earth. It’s a heartwarming idea, perfectly captured in the famous words of the wizard known for enjoying his pipe:

I don’t think we’re meant to fix everything that’s wrong with the world, but to do our best to help the people and times we live in. It’s about tackling the problems right in front of us, so that future generations can inherit a better world – a clean slate, if you will – to build upon. It feels like that’s what really matters.

He argues that we shouldn’t worry about stopping wealthy tech leaders from developing potentially dangerous artificial intelligence and replacing workers. Instead, he believes we should focus on making positive choices within our own lives and communities – essentially, taking care of what’s directly within our reach. It’s a case of thinking about the bigger picture, but acting on what you can change locally.

As a huge movie fan, I always love a great monologue, and this one from Gandalf is truly iconic – it’s one of those quotes that really sticks with you from the books. It’s a shame Peter Jackson left it out of the films, honestly – it feels like a missed opportunity. But I’ve always wondered, where exactly does this timeless line appear in Tolkien’s massive world?

Pope Leo’s Gandalf Quote Appears In Return Of The King Chapter 9, “The Last Debate”

The most frequently quoted part of Tolkien’s The Return of the King, the final book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, is Gandalf’s speech about controlling all the forces of the world. This passage appears in Chapter 9, “The Last Debate,” where Gandalf is discussing what to do next with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. While it comes up in a specific situation, the core idea behind Gandalf’s words speaks to a much larger understanding of what’s right and wrong.

I wasn’t surprised at all to see the Pope mention The Lord of the Rings when talking about A.I.! Like C.S. Lewis, Tolkien was a deeply religious Catholic, and his stories are full of faith and echoes of the Bible. It’s easy to get caught up in the wizards, orcs, and rings, but underneath it all, The Lord of the Rings is actually one of the most powerfully Christian stories ever written, in my opinion.

While filmmakers like George Lucas, Zack Snyder, and the Wachowskis typically include one Christ-like figure in their stories inspired by the Bible, J.R.R. Tolkien features three. Frodo, Aragorn, and Gandalf each experience a death and rebirth – sometimes symbolic, sometimes real – and ultimately become revered saviors. Each character embodies a different aspect of the messianic role of Jesus: Frodo represents the priestly side, Aragorn the kingly side, and Gandalf the prophetic side.

It makes perfect sense that the new Pope enjoys The Lord of the Rings. However, it’s surprising to find The Return of the King actually listed as a source in an official letter from him, alongside references to his message for the World Day of Peace and an address to the media.

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2026-05-25 19:30