Chris Pratt Says Upcoming Vatican Documentary on St. Peter’s Tomb Deepened His Faith
Actor Chris Pratt says his personal faith was deeply affected by exploring the historical and archaeological discoveries surrounding the tomb of St. Peter at the Vatican for an upcoming documentary project.
Titled “Pétros Ení — Discovering the Origins,” the film was produced by AF Films in collaboration with Vatican Media and the Fabric of St. Peter. The documentary marks the upcoming 400th anniversary of the consecration of St. Peter’s Basilica, which originally took place on November 18, 1626. Production of the project included the use of IMAX drone cameras to capture sweeping views of the historic Vatican surroundings, while featuring on-screen appearances by Pratt alongside Pope Leo XIV examining the site’s history.
Speaking to reporters on a red carpet while promoting the second season of his television series “The Terminal List,” Pratt described the experience of encountering the historic site as deeply moving.
“It was really profound to be encountering the remains of one of Jesus’ apostles,” Pratt said during the interview. Pointing to foundational scripture, the actor noted that Jesus declared the church would be built upon that rock, referring to Simon Peter. To stand at the site and witness the physical church standing roughly two thousand years later, he added, demonstrated that the prophecy of those words had come true.
Pratt, widely recognized for his starring roles in major cinematic franchises including “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Jurassic World,” has increasingly spoken openly about his Christian faith in recent years. He is married to Katherine Schwarzenegger, who is Catholic, and regularly attends Mass with his family while raising their children within the Church. Outside of his entertainment career, the actor has frequently supported military veterans, though he has occasionally drawn criticism from liberal commentators online regarding perceived conservative viewpoints while generally remaining apart from partisan politics.
Reflecting further on the production during an interview with Vatican News, Pratt emphasized that he hopes viewers take away a specific human perspective on the apostle after watching the finished film.
“What I would like audiences to understand about Peter after watching this documentary is that he was an imperfect man,” Pratt said. “He was a weak man. He was a human being. And I believe we are all broken, imperfect, and weak. But his strength lies in the grace of Jesus and his faith in God. With that strength, through grace and faith, you can be incredibly strong.”
Expressing gratitude for the collaboration, the actor highlighted the unique access granted to the production team during filming. Collaborating with Pope Leo and the Vatican was described as an incredible honor, with Pratt noting deep appreciation for the trust placed in the filmmakers to bring the foundational narrative of St. Peter’s legacy to the screen.
“Pétros Ení — Discovering the Origins” is scheduled for a theatrical release across the United States in February 2027.
