Jonathan Romy, the actor who plays Jesus, meets Pope Leo XIV

Jonathan Romy, who plays Jesus in the series "The Chosen One," met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.

Jonathan Romy, who plays Jesus Christ in the series "The Chosen One," had a brief meeting with Pope Leo XIV following a public ceremony at the Vatican, where the series' fifth season was filmed. The fifth episode of the series aired on Monday at the Holy See Filmocean.

He was joined by Elizabeth Tebish, who plays Mary Magdalene, George Zantis, who plays John, and Vanessa Benavente, who plays Mary, the mother of Jesus. “Playing a charismatic figure like Jesus has helped strengthen my faith, and I consider this experience a divine grace,” Romy told a Vatican correspondent about playing Jesus.

Jonathan is a Catholic Christian who was raised by an Egyptian father and an Irish mother. He says of his past experiences: “I have tried to transfer what I learned from my parents into this role without any imposition. I have always seen Jesus as a simple man who, in his simplicity, contained countless teachings and values, and I hope to live by these values ​​every day.”

"I cried when Pope Leo XIV was elected because I never thought I would see an American pope in my lifetime," Romy said at a press conference held at the Vatican before the film's release. "To be able to speak to him in our native language this week was something I never thought I would see in my life."

Jonathan took a selfie with Pope Leo on Wednesday, June 25, presenting him with a gift from the series "The Chosen One." He also added about their presence in Italy for the filming of the sixth season of the series: "This season deals with the crucifixion of Jesus. Parts of the filming took place in the city of Matera, which is famous for its ancient landscapes. I also felt the responsibility that I felt while filming some scenes was very heavy, but the power of faith gave me focus. It was also a great honor to meet the Pope today."

The series "The Chosen One" is one of the most watched religious series that has been broadcast all over the world. Selected seasons of the series have grossed over $140 million worldwide after being released in theaters, and the fifth season of the series will be released internationally online on Prime Video starting July 13.