What an unforgettable experience!
Actor, television host, and practicing Catholic, Mario Lopez experienced something he will never forget: Mass at the Vatican and a meeting with Pope Leo!
Lopez, who is most well-known for his role as “A.C. Slater” in the classic teen sitcom, “Saved by the Bell,” went to Italy to cover the Winter Olympics for Access Hollywood.
During his visit, he shared his Catholic experiences with his more than three million followers on Instagram.
Over the past several days, Lopez visited several sites in Rome. He shared his experience attending Mass, visiting with Pope Leo, and seeing the beauty of the Catholic Church in Rome.
“Today was humbling,” Lopez wrote in a photo carousel published on Sunday, February 15. “Met the Holy Father, attended Mass at the Vatican, and had my cross blessed. A moment I'll carry with me forever. Faith over everything.”
In a video also published over the weekend, Lopez shares his experience visiting and attending Mass at the Vatican.
He and his wife, Courtney, visited the Apostolic Palace and Saint Peter’s Basilica, took a photo with a Swiss Guard, and attended Mass with Pope Leo.
“As a Catholic, this was incredibly special,” Lopez wrote in the video’s caption. “ Walking the Vatican with the Swiss Guard — men who’ve dedicated their lives to protecting the Holy Father — is something I’ll never forget. Moments like this remind you that faith isn’t just history….. It’s living tradition.”
Here’s the video below:
“In the Apostolic house where Pope Leo lives. This is his private chapel. It’s where he comes to pray by himself.” Lopez begins. “Michelangelo did the art here. He puts himself in all his art.”
“This is very cool,” he continues. “The whole place is…wow!”
The Catholic actor and television host has become more vocal about his faith over the past several years.
Making the Sign of the Cross, Lopez often encourages his followers to pray, and when his family celebrates a special Catholic occasion, he shares it.
In August of 2022, Lopez shared photos of his son’s First Communion.
The actor said he “couldn’t be more proud” of his son, while his wife congratulated her “little Catholic man.”
Lopez also commemorates Ash Wednesday every year, reminding his followers to “remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return…”