For Christian actor Chris Pratt, the conversation began with prayer.
During an October 20 appearance on NBC’s “TODAY,” Pratt opened up about his private meeting with Pope Leo XIV and the questions he brought to their brief conversation.
“He’s awesome. He’s great,” Pratt said when asked about the Holy Father.
After the interviewer, Carson Daly, noted that the pope seemed “very American,” Pratt responded warmly.
“Yeah. Yeah, he’s an American dude. It was amazing,” he said. “I think he’s a fantastic man.”
“I Asked Him How I Could Pray for Him”
Pratt said he had the opportunity for a private audience with Pope Leo XIV and spoke with him for half an hour.
When Daly asked what he said during that encounter, the actor described two questions: one about praying for the Holy Father, and another about sharing Christ’s love while remaining faithful to the Gospel.
“I asked him how I could pray for him, and then I asked him a question about sort of grace on the fringes and how do you bring love to people while also sticking to the words of the Gospel.” Pratt said.
“And he just gave me the most amazing answers.”
Pratt did not share the pope’s specific responses in the exchange, but his enthusiasm made clear how much he valued their conversation.
The segment also included a lighthearted moment. After hearing Pratt’s questions, Daly joked, “I asked him who was going to win the Super Bowl next year,” adding, “I thought he might know.”
This was in reference to the online viral meme that was circulating before the Super Bowl in January regarding how the last two times a new Pope had been elected, the Seahawks had made it to the Super Bowl. And then, the Seahawks did in fact go on to win the Super Bowl this year.
A Documentary Exploring St. Peter’s Story
Pratt’s appearance on the morning talk show also touched on a documentary connected to the 400th anniversary of St. Peter’s Basilica.
The actor narrates “Pétros Ení: Discovering the Origins,” a documentary produced in collaboration with the Vatican that explores the search for St. Peter’s remains beneath the basilica and features Pope Leo XIV.