Overview

• Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus on The Chosen, met Pope Leo XIV during a general audience at the Vatican on June 25, 2025, and presented him with a series gift.
• The encounter was documented in a photograph shared on the Pope’s official Instagram account, showing Roumie and Leo XIV together.
• Roumie joined creator Dallas Jenkins and castmates in Rome after wrapping a three-week shoot of Season 6’s final 24 hours of Jesus’ life in Matera, Italy.
• Matera served as the backdrop for the new crucifixion scenes and was previously used by Mel Gibson for The Passion of the Christ.
• Roumie said he wept upon hearing of Pope Leo XIV’s election, admitting he never expected to see an American pontiff in his lifetime.