Hollywood star Chris Pratt, known for blockbuster roles in Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, has penned a deeply personal essay exploring his faith journey, fatherhood, and the transformative power of grace. Published on December 20, 2025, in Maria Shriver's The Sunday Paper, the 46-year-old actor reflects on how his eldest son Jack's life-threatening premature birth in 2012 and a recent trip to Rome for a documentary on St. Peter deepened his spiritual commitment.
Pratt traces his belief in God back to childhood, writing: "I was baptised in a Catholic Church and have believed in God since childhood." He describes growing up attending various congregations—Catholic, Lutheran, and Evangelical—while noting that "the healing power of grace" remained a constant amid shifting church experiences. However, he admits to periods of spiritual inconsistency, marked by cycles of rebellion, guilt, forgiveness, and renewal.
The pivotal turning point came in 2012 when Jack, shared with ex-wife Anna Faris, was born nine weeks premature, weighing just over three pounds, and spent a month in intensive care. Pratt recounts the terror of that time: "When my son Jack was fighting for his life, I found myself back on my knees, pleading to God for a miracle." He made a profound promise during those desperate moments—if Jack survived, he would dedicate his life to sharing God's message.
Jack pulled through and is now a healthy 13-year-old. Pratt expresses daily gratitude for this outcome, while empathetically acknowledging the pain of others: "I know there are countless parents who pray those same prayers and don’t receive the answer I did. My heart is with them always." This experience, Pratt writes, compelled him to speak openly about faith, despite potential criticism.
More recently, Pratt's faith was further enriched during a trip to Rome, where he filmed an upcoming documentary exploring the tomb of St. Peter beneath the Vatican Basilica. Describing it as a "profound experience," he shares: "It was a profound experience to stand deep beneath the basilica, encountering the 2000-year-old bones of Jesus’ disciple, surrounded by the history and mystery of my faith—not as something abstract or distant, but as something I could see and touch."
Using light and darkness as metaphors, Pratt explains faith's role in life's struggles: "Darkness is not a presence. Darkness is simply the absence of light." He believes faith helps position challenges "behind us," offering perspective rather than elimination of hardship. Despite knowing public discussions of religion can invite backlash—"The louder I shine, the more sharply some people see their own shadows"—Pratt feels called to share: "Whenever I can, I feel compelled to talk about the light my faith has brought into my life."
This is not Pratt's first time linking Jack's birth to his faith. In a 2014 interview, he stated that the ordeal "restored my faith in God... it really redefined it," shifting his priorities toward family. Anna Faris has also spoken about the frightening period, highlighting the couple's shared anxiety.
Pratt and Faris divorced amicably in 2018 after nearly nine years of marriage and continue co-parenting Jack. Pratt remarried in 2019 to author Katherine Schwarzenegger, daughter of Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The couple has three children: daughters Lyla (5) and Eloise (3), and son Ford (1). Pratt credits his blended family life with further reinforcing his values.
The Rome documentary, produced in collaboration with Vatican Media and others, marks a unique project for Pratt, who serves as onscreen guide. Announced earlier in December 2025, it aims to blend faith, history, and archaeology, offering unprecedented access to the Vatican Necropolis.
Pratt's essay resonates amid his ongoing public expressions of Christianity, including partnerships with faith-based apps and charitable efforts. In an industry often wary of overt religious discussions, his vulnerability highlights a personal evolution from spiritual cycles to steadfast commitment, rooted in gratitude for survival and tangible encounters with history.
As families gather for the holidays, Pratt's words serve as a reminder of faith's role in navigating life's uncertainties, emphasizing compassion, resilience, and the shared human experience of hope.
