Jim Caviezel Tells of Meeting With Pope

Actor Who Plays Jesus in "The Passion" Thanked Holy
Father for Letter to Artists

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 16, 2004 (Zenit.org).- 

Jim Caviezel, who plays Jesus in "The Passion of the
Christ," thanked John Paul II for his witness which
the actor said has profoundly inspired his own life. 

Caviezel spoke today with a group of journalists about
his private audience Monday with the Pope. They spoke,
among other things, of the 1999 letter the Holy 
Father wrote to artists, Caviezel said. The actor said
the letter has helped him personally. 

The rest was "private," Caviezel told journalists in
the Vatican, including a ZENIT representative. 

The audience took place in the Pope's private library.
"I couldn't tell you how long it lasted," said
Caviezel. He said he did not look at his watch as he
was absorbed in the Holy Father's conversation. 

ZENIT saw some of the pictures taken during the
meeting, and learned that John Paul II gave Caviezel a
rosary. Caviezel and his wife were seated in front of 
the Pope's desk. 

"John Paul II is a very special man for a very special
world. He is the Pope of Fatima," Caviezel said in
reference to the explanation given by the Holy See to 
the so-called third secret of the Virgin confided to
the three little Portuguese shepherds. "The Pope is a
mystic. He loves Christ." 

Caviezel said of the film's director: "Mel Gibson is
very, very Catholic, very Roman Catholic." 

"Many celebrities say they are Catholics but they do
not follow the Vatican, on pro-life issues, on capital
punishment," Caviezel added. "When you see Mel 
Gibson's film, is it Protestant? Is it Muslim? Is it
Catholic? What do you see? 

"It is very Catholic, very universal. It is a great
way to introduce people to what it means to be
Catholic: It is universal, for all peoples, for all
times." 

For Caviezel, to be involved in the film was a "real
spiritual experience." 

"You can't see what is shown and remain indifferent"
-- much less so if, as an actor, one penetrates the
character to give the best of oneself, he said. 

In acting the part, Caviezel said to himself: "I don't
want people to see me; I just want them to see Jesus."


To come to this experience, Caviezel added, "I began
with the rosary, the rosary led me to confession,
confession led me to the Mass, every day, and always 
when I have the Eucharist in my body, I feel more like
being in Christ." 

The actor also responded to some accusations of
anti-Semitism made by some groups against the film. 

As a believer, Caviezel said, "I am Semitic. It is my
lineage. I am from the House of David and Abraham." 

If "someone says the film is anti-Semitic, the Bible
should also be considered anti-Semitic," he said.
Caviezel added that he has suggested to Jewish 
compatriots to make a film on Moses or David. 

On Monday, Caviezel presented the film "The Passion of
the Christ" to some ecclesiastics who live in Rome,
before it was shown at the Regina Apostolorum 
Pontifical Athenaeum.


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