Catholic Jesus Actor Jonathan Roumie Meets Pope Francis: "The Honor of My Spiritual Life"

Congratulations to Jonathan Roumie! 👏👏👏

Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus on the hit crowd-funding series The Chosen, met Pope Francis on Wed., Aug. 11 while visiting Rome with his show’s crew. Roumie is Catholic and said the encounter fulfilled his childhood dream.

“From the time I was a kid, I always wanted to meet the pope and go to World Youth Day, and I never knew how to do that,” Roumie said in a CNA interview. “My parents were immigrants, so that wasn’t something that they knew about.”

Roumie told the pope that he portrays Jesus on an internet television series.

“His eyes kind of lit up when I said that,” Roumie recalled.

Series director and evangelical Christian Dallas Jenkins also met Pope Francs during the visit.

“When I met him, I said, ‘I’m a Protestant, but I’m making a show about Jesus that people of all faiths appreciate,” Jenkins told Pope Francis.

Jenkins added that Pope Francis then “pointed to Jonathan and he said: ‘Is he Jesus?’ And I said, ‘yes.’ And he said, ‘Are you Judas?’ And I said, ‘no, no no,’ and he laughed.”

“I really loved his sense of humor, and he just has a very sweet nature about him. So for me, I appreciate all that even if I don’t relate to the formality of it.”

Here’s Roumie’s meeting with Pope Francis below:

EWTN News

Roumie also posted the meeting on his Instagram:

Roumie’s post reads, “Epic moment in history for myself and [Dallas Jenkins]. This man [Pope Francis] was just full of joy. Still high on the moment. Thanks to Adrian for the stellar pics from the crowd. See yesterday’s post for video shot by Dallas.”

Here’s the video he posted:

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Roumie’s caption reads, “The honor of my spiritual life, and a childhood dream realized. No words….😭 Beyond graced…Gracias Santo Padre Franciscus for your time and blessings!”

The Chosen is the first-ever multi-season television show depicting the lives of Jesus and His apostles. After the first episode launched, the series became the #1 media and film crowdfunding project of all time.

The studio is currently raising funds to film its third season.