Archbishop Viganò posts photos of himself with Mel Gibson on the set of “Resurrection”
Mel Gibson had supported Archbishop Viganò after the prelate was seemingly excommunicated by Pope Francis.
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò posted photos on virtual communication networks of himself with Oscar-winning actor and director Mel Gibson on the set of the upcoming film The Resurrection.
This is Archbishop Viganò’s official account, featuring behind-the-scenes photos from the set of Mel Gibson’s The Resurrection. https://t.co/F7H18VhsKh
— John-Henry Westen (@JhWesten) February 17, 2026
The photos show the former nuncio to the US, Archbishop Viganò, talking to and sitting next to Gibson, while the latter appears to be directing the conversation.
It is unclear how long the two have known each other, but Gibson, a traditional Catholic, expressed passionate support for Archbishop Viganò in 2024 during one of his most controversial moments and has been in contact with the prelate at least since then. At that time, Gibson wrote a letter to Archbishop Viganò, calling him a “modern-day Athanasius” following his apparent excommunication by Pope Francis.
“It is truly an honour to be excommunicated by the false, post-conciliar Church,” Gibson wrote in a private letter that the archbishop shared.
In 2023, Gibson supported His Excellency’s appeals for persecuted Christians in Armenia who were expelled from Nagorno-Karabakh by the Israeli-backed Azerbaijani army.
Gibson’s upcoming two-part film, The Resurrection of the Christ, a sequel to his 2004 blockbuster The Passion of the Christ, is being produced at Cinecittà Studios in Rome, Italy. Part One is scheduled for Good Friday, March 26, 2027, with Part Two following 40 days later on Ascension Day, May 6.
The Passion of the Christ was an extraordinary film, not only because of its impact on audiences, but also because of its profound influence on the cast. At least two actors experienced complete conversions during filming: Luca Lionello, who played Judas, and Pietro Sarubbi, who portrayed Barabbas.
Lionello was a self-proclaimed “angry atheist,” but before filming wrapped, “he asked for confession,” according to on-set priest Father John Bartunek. “Apparently, he was completely transformed by the experience. He had his children baptized, sanctified his marriage, and returned to the Church,” Bartunek said.
Sarubbi has written a book about his conversion experience, which was triggered when he appears in the film and sees Jesus for the first time as he is released into freedom.
“When our eyes met, I felt an electric shock. It was as if I were really seeing Jesus. I had never experienced anything like that in all my years of acting,” the Italian actor said.
“It was a big impact,” he told Zenit. “I felt as if an electric current was flowing between us. I saw Jesus himself.”
“I’m not ashamed to say that I had a conversion during filming. All the actors involved transformed through this experience, and I learned more from the film than from any conference,” Sarubbi told CNA.
The Resurrection of the Christ will have a completely new cast than The Passion. In Caviezel’s case, a source close to the production said the reason was his age and the high cost of de-aging CGI to portray him as a 33-year-old Christ.
Gibson has recast the entire cast. Cuban actress Mariela Garriga takes over the role of St. Mary Magdalene from Monica Bellucci, Italian actor Pier Luigi Pasino replaces Francesco De Vito as St. Peter, another Italian, Riccardo Scamarcio, takes over the role of Pontius Pilate from Hristo Shopov, and Polish actress Kasia Smutniak replaces Maia Morgenstern as the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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February 26, 2026