Actor Antonio Banderas delivered a heartfelt reflection on faith, art and artificial intelligence during a recent gathering with Pope Leo XIV in Madrid, revealing that he has long been “captivated by the spell of God.”

The Spanish actor addressed the pontiff and a group of cultural leaders Sunday as part of Pope Leo’s apostolic visit to Spain, sharing deeply personal memories from his childhood and explaining how his Christian faith was shaped by the traditions and people of his hometown of Malaga.

“A question was born within me when I was only 4 or 5 years old,” Banderas said. “It consisted of a single word: God.”

Banderas reflected on attending Holy Week processions as a young boy, describing how those moments stirred a spiritual curiosity that never left him. He said many of his earliest answers about God came through the devotion he witnessed in his family, especially in his mother.

“Little by little, I began to find answers,” he said. “Some were as simple as those I discovered in my mother’s eyes as she fixed her gaze and her devoted heart upon the virgin of hope as her throne passed before us in those distant years.”

The actor also praised the “humble and good people” of Malaga, whose public displays of faith left a lasting impression on him. According to Banderas, the processions were about more than tradition — they reflected a willingness to move beyond self-interest and toward unity, compassion and ultimately God.

“From the we, they moved to them, from them to all, from all to the world, from the world to the universe and from the universe to God,” he said, adding that he believes God may be present “in every heartbeat and every sigh.”

At one point, Banderas directly addressed Pope Leo and explained why he felt called to speak at the event.

“I am here because of ‘Godspell,'” he said, referring to the famous musical created in the United States, the pope’s homeland. “I, too, have been captivated by the spell of God.”

The actor also highlighted the historic relationship between Christianity and artistic expression, calling the Catholic Church’s influence on art “decisive.” He noted that Jesus Christ has remained the most enduring and frequently portrayed figure in the history of art.

“Across all the arts, Christ remains a constant presence,” Banderas said, describing Jesus as “an icon of peace, love and sacrifice surrounded by an inexhaustible mystery.”

Banderas emphasized that artists should not shy away from speaking truthfully about culture, society and even religion itself. He warned that modern culture risks losing its depth and soul in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

“In a world that rushes forward, fragments itself and, at times, oversimplifies reality, art helps us recover the depth and the soul that are in danger of being taken from us by artificial intelligences,” he said.

His remarks closely echoed concerns Pope Leo XIV recently raised in his first encyclical focused on artificial intelligence. Banderas agreed that AI should remain “at the service of the human person and never the other way around.”

The actor concluded by urging both the church and society to continue pursuing truth, beauty and deeper spiritual questions together.

“We need to continue asking questions,” Banderas said. “For wherever we dare to ask profound questions, a path always begins, a path that can lead us towards the spiritual.”