Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus Christ in the acclaimed series The Chosen, called his visit to the Vatican “a humbling honor” and a profound confirmation of the show’s mission to bring Jesus to the world. “The fact we’re here now, sitting at the Vatican… is a testament to, I think, how God wants to continue to further this mission to bring more people to Jesus and to bring Jesus to them,” Roumie said during a press conference on June 23, 2025, according to CNA.
The cast and crew of The Chosen are visiting the Vatican the same week they concluded filming the Crucifixion scenes of Season 6 in southern Italy. These scenes, shot in Matera—also the location used in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ—marked the end of a particularly grueling chapter in production. “The three weeks [in Matera] were the most challenging and difficult we had in filming,” series creator and director Dallas Jenkins said, adding it required a deep spiritual surrender to Christ.
During the visit, Season 5, Episode 4 titled “The Same Coin” was screened at the Vatican’s Filmoteca theater. The full season, focused on Holy Week, will be available for streaming in Italy starting in July. Jenkins described it as a gateway for new viewers: “The season features some of the most well-known scenes in Scripture,” including Judas’ betrayal, Jesus flipping tables in the Temple, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, and the institution of the Eucharist.
Roumie, who has portrayed Christ since the show’s beginning, acknowledged the emotional weight of filming these pivotal moments. For years, he explained, people asked if he looked forward to filming the Crucifixion. His answer was always the same: “I can’t think about that, I can’t think about the cross, because we’re not there yet.” He focused instead on Jesus’ living ministry, because, as Roumie said, “If there was anyone in the whole history of the world who was present at all times, it was Jesus Christ.”
The show’s impact has gone far beyond entertainment. Roumie reflected, “In the process of making this show, we didn’t know we would ever go beyond four episodes of the first season… And then to fast forward seven years, and thousands of stories later about how this show has been used by God to change people’s lives — and in some unique, distinct cases, to save people’s lives — humbling doesn’t even come close.”
The Vatican visit is also deeply personal for Roumie. On June 25, he will present a gift from The Chosen to Pope Leo XIV during the Wednesday general audience. “When [Pope Leo XIV] was elected, I wept, because I never thought I’d see an American pope in my lifetime,” he told CNA. “To get to communicate to him in our native language this week is just something I never thought I would see in my life.”
The cast at the Vatican includes Elizabeth Tabish (Mary Magdalene), George Xanthis (John the Apostle), and Vanessa Benavente (Mother Mary), all of whom echoed the profound emotional and spiritual experience of portraying their roles. “Jesus is more than a painting, and the church is more than just a building,” Jenkins told journalists. “Jesus and the apostles were not just stained-glass windows, but Jesus became man… and these men and women actually lived and actually had a relationship with Jesus… something we can have today.”
As The Chosen continues to move forward—now preparing to bring Season 6 and the Crucifixion to screens—the Vatican visit serves as a global spiritual milestone. It reminds viewers that the story of Christ is not only history but living truth.
