Mario Lopez Baptized in Jordan River Where Jesus Was Baptized: ‘Hallelujah!’
Actor and TV show host Mario Lopez got a once in a lifetime experience in the Jordan River during his tour of the Holy Land last week. The outspoken Catholic and Extra television host visited the Sea of Galilee, the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum and Jerusalem. He also got baptized in the Jordan River, where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.
In a video just before the baptism, Lopez explained:
We are at the Jordan River where John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ. I’m about to get baptized. It’s a beautiful day. There’s a really cool Catholic priest that’s gonna do me the honors. And there’s a sermon going on right now. So I’m going to join these fine folks and then, bam! Take a dip. It’s on!
Got baptized in the same river Jesus did…#JordanRiver #Jesus #JohnTheBaptist pic.twitter.com/WIuPtqEk9b
— Mario Lopez (@mariolopezviva) March 22, 2018
Lopez, flanked by two priests, stood in the water as Romanian tourists sang I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. One of the priests asked him, “Do you believe in Jesus Christ?” “Do you believe He’s the Son of God?” and “Do you intend to serve him all your life?” Lopez replied, “Yes, I do” to each one. The priests then baptized him.
Spiritual moment…#Baptized #JordanRiver #Catholic pic.twitter.com/d2dNGyCAUQ
— Mario Lopez (@mariolopezviva) March 22, 2018
“Thank you,” said Lopez after his baptism. “Beautiful people here helping me. Thank you. This is awesome. Wow. I just got baptized in the Jordan River. Hallelujah!”
Lopez’s Strong Catholic Faith
Lopez is married with two children. His Catholic faith has been very important to him and he hasn’t shied away from talking about it. In 2015, he gave an interview to Fox News Latino (FNL). “I think as I’ve gotten older, I’ve just tried to build a more spiritual muscle in a business that is very unpredictable,” he told FNL. “It’s nice to have something that is consistent in our life — family and faith is that for me.”
He’s also loves Pope Francis. He calls the pope the “biggest star you could get.” He adds: “His message is loving people and coming from a place of love. You can’t go wrong with that approach. It’s pretty powerful.”
Lopez aggressively shares his faith on social media, including what FNL called “his strong Catholic morals.” Many religious Hollywood celebrities don’t talk about their faith. “I am proud of who I am and what I am and being Catholic,” Lopez said. He knows he’s swimming against the stream. Religion is “a very personal thing and beliefs are pretty strong, and not everyone is going to agree with you.”
What’s also cool? Even PeopleTV noticed.