With just weeks remaining before Stephen Colbert signs off from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, speculation has naturally turned toward who might appear during the show’s final stretch of episodes. Despite the enormous range of guests he’s interviewed since taking over for David Letterman in 2015, there’s still one booking that remains firmly on his wish list.
In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Colbert was asked whether there are any guests he’s still desperate to land before The Late Show comes to an end. His answer: “The pope is my white whale."
Colbert revealed that he's even gone so far as to write a letter to Pope Leo XIV. He shared that the request to appear on The Late Show even included the promise that the pair would not discuss politics on the show.
Colbert admitted the letter was written before the pontiff recently demonstrated a willingness to publicly engage in political disputes. The pope recently found himself in a headline-grabbing clash involving President Donald Trump over the Iran conflict.
“Because I didn’t really think he’d want to talk about politics or anything like that. Little did I know that the guy could throw a punch,” Colbert joked. Instead, Colbert wanted the conversation to be about life as an American Catholic today.
The idea makes sense given Colbert’s long and very public relationship with his faith. Unlike many late-night hosts, Colbert has frequently spoken openly about his religion throughout his career, often blending theological discussions with humor in ways that feel natural to the outgoing Late Show host.
Over the years, he’s discussed everything from grief and doubt to scripture and social justice in interviews with public figures ranging from priests to politicians. Some of the most widely praised conversations of his career have touched on spirituality, suffering, and the role faith plays in navigating tragedy.
And Colbert would have no trouble engaging in a lengthy conversation with the pope without mentioning the president. Both have connections to Chicago, where Pope Leo grew up and Colbert attended Northwestern University before starting his comedy career in the city.
Then there's also their shared popularity. A recent poll found that Colbert and Pope Leo were the only public figures and institutions to get a favorable rating from Americans. So, there is clearly an audience that would love to see these two share a room together.
The Late Show already has its guests lined up for the week of May 11-14. That means if Pope Leo is going to make a late-night TV debut, it will come during the final week of shows for Colbert. Right now it seems like a longshot, but miracles do happen.
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