Actress, producer, director and activist, Salma Hayek was honored by Pope Francis for her work in the arts and for using her status as a celebrity to promote unity and peace.

The honor, called the Olive Medal, was part of an event held at the Vatican on Sunday, May 29 to promote the pope's new initiative Scholas Occurrentes, which is dedicated to encourage social integration through art and technology.

Hayek, who is known for bringing attention to violence against women and discrimination against immigrants and her work with UNICEF, was honored along with George Clooney and Richard Gere.

All three actors have agreed to be global ambassadors for the Scholas Occurrentes foundation.

On her social media accounts, the actress shared photos from her and her family's meeting with the pontiff that revealed Pope Francis blessing her daughter Valentina with a kiss on the head.

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