MANILA, Philippines — Faith and film converged in a historic moment at the Vatican as Pope Leo XIV welcomed Jonathan Roumie, the actor best known for portraying Jesus Christ in the hit biblical series “The Chosen.”
Roumie, a devout Catholic, met with the pontiff on June 25 during the Pope’s general audience at the Vatican. The meeting came just two days after the screening of “The Same Coin” episode from The Chosen Season 5 at the Vatican’s Filmoteca theater—marking the first time the show was featured in such a venue.
During their brief but meaningful encounter, Roumie presented Pope Leo with a token of appreciation from the series and shared a selfie with the pontiff. The photo was later posted on the official Instagram page of the Holy Father, who is notably the first American pope in the Catholic Church’s history.
“When [Pope Leo XIV] was elected, I wept, because I never thought I’d see an American pope in my lifetime,” Roumie said before the screening. “To communicate to him in our native language this week is just something I never thought I would see in my life.”
Joining Roumie at the Vatican were The Chosen creator Dallas Jenkins and key cast members including Elizabeth Tabish (Mary Magdalene), George Xanthis (John the Apostle), and Vanessa Benavente (Mother Mary).
‘The Chosen’ Moves Toward the Crucifixion
The encounter comes as The Chosen wraps up major production milestones. The cast and crew recently completed filming Jesus’ crucifixion scenes in Matera, Italy, a historic town also used by Mel Gibson for his 2004 film The Passion of the Christ.
Looking ahead, the series will culminate its sixth season in 2027 with a theatrical feature film depicting the crucifixion. The seventh and final season will open with another theater-exclusive film covering the Resurrection of Christ, continuing its blend of television and cinematic release formats.
Hollywood Meets the Holy See
Roumie’s visit comes shortly after another major celebrity appearance at the Vatican: Oscar-winning actor Al Pacino met Pope Leo XIV in a private audience related to his upcoming film “Maserati: The Brothers.”
The Chosen, which continues to grow in global popularity across faith-based and mainstream audiences, has been praised for its nuanced storytelling and heartfelt performances, positioning it as one of the most ambitious Christian media projects to date.
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