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Chris Pratt and Pope Leo XIV Unveil New Documentary on St. Peter's Remains
Confirmed
In Short: Actor Chris Pratt and Pope Leo XIV premiered a documentary about the discovery of St. Peter's remains beneath St. Peter's Basilica.
Actor Chris Pratt and Pope Leo XIV unveiled a new documentary, 'Pétros Ení: Discovering the Origins,' at the Vatican on Friday, October 5, 2026.
The documentary explores the archaeological discoveries made beneath St. Peter's Basilica, which began in 1939 under Pope Pius XII and culminated in 1968 when Pope Paul VI announced the identification of St. Peter's remains.
Pratt, who returned to Catholicism about six years ago, said in a video introducing the film, 'What I would like audiences to understand about Peter after watching this documentary is that he was an imperfect man. He was a weak man. He was a human being.'
The documentary, directed by Spanish filmmaker Paula Ortiz and written by Andrea Tornielli, combines historical accounts, archival material, and archaeological evidence to tell the story of St. Peter and the origins of the basilica.
Pope Leo XIV, who recently underwent surgery for lung adenocarcinoma, made a rare on-camera appearance to discuss the project.
The film, produced by AF Films in collaboration with Vatican Media and the Fabric of St. Peter, marks the 400th anniversary of the consecration of St. Peter's Basilica on November 18, 1626.
Paolo Ruffini, head of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, addressed the 'Christian paradox' of a church led by a 'weak and sinful man,' referring to St. Peter.
Pratt described the opportunity to work with the Pope and the Vatican as an extraordinary honor, expressing gratitude for the trust and access granted to the production.
The documentary is scheduled to be released in theaters in February 2027, offering audiences a glimpse into the sacred history of one of Christianity's most important holy sites.
What this adds
The documentary's historical narrative begins with Peter, the fisherman from Galilee whom Jesus entrusted with the leadership of the nascent Church.
Further research led Pope Paul VI to announce in 1968 that the remains believed to belong to St. Peter had been identified.
The documentary combines historical research, archaeology, and Christian faith to bring the story of St. Peter to life.
Background
Pope Leo XIV resumed work activities just days after undergoing surgery for lung adenocarcinoma.
What's confirmed
- “What I would like audiences to understand about Peter after watching this documentary is that he was an imperfect man. He was a weak man. He was a human being,” Pratt said in a short video introducing the film at the premiere.
- “Pétros ení: Discovering the Origins” premiered Friday (Oct.
- Pratt’s journey is thus enriched by documentary evidence, bringing to life the work that began with the sampietrini (the workers responsible for the upkeep of St Peter’s Basilica) and the fossori (the grave diggers), who undertook delicate excavations during wartime.
What's still developing
- Peter’s Basilica, which is rarely trodden by its roughly 45,000 visitors every day.
- Peter, contributions from Pietro Zander (one of the leading experts on the Vatican Necropolis), images and audio recordings of the popes, and archival footage from renowned epigrapher Margherita Guarducci.
- Peter, one of Jesus Christ’s apostles and a central figure in the Catholic Church.
- Further research followed, leading Pope Paul VI to announce in 1968 that the remains believed to belong to St. Peter had been identified.
- As Dr. Ruffini noted in his acknowledgements, its greatest appeal lies in “the Christian paradox: a Church that Jesus entrusted to the leadership of a weak and sinful man, the fisherman from Galilee who had denied him but was forgiven when their eyes met”.
- Pratt tells the story of a Church whose foundations rest on the blood of the Apostle.
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- And while we wouldn't necessarily expect the pope to trade his white cassock for a fedora and a whip, it's fun to imagine him helping Hollywood uncover a few ancient mysteries.
- When Emperor Constantine ordered the construction of the first basilica in the 4th century, the site was so important that the surrounding hillside was altered to accommodate the building while preserving the area associated with Peter's tomb.
- With a Hollywood action star, a pope, and nearly 2,000 years of fascinating history to uncover, it seems more of a mission for Indiana Jones.
- The documentary’s historical narrative begins with Peter himself: the fisherman from Galilee whom Jesus entrusted with the leadership of the nascent Church and who, according to Christian tradition, was martyred in Rome during the persecution under Emperor Nero.
- The investigations continued, eventually leading Pope Paul VI to announce in 1968 that the apostle’s bones had also been identified with what he considered convincing evidence.