Mel Gibson Enjoys Ice Cream with Friends in Rome After Monastery Retreat

Mel Gibson indulged in tasty gelato while accompanied by two friars during an outing in Rome on Wednesday. 

The Braveheart actor, 69 – who has been spending time in Europe ahead of filming his upcoming sequel to The Passion Of The Christ – also grabbed dinner with his new pals before enjoying a nighttime stroll in the bustling city. 

It comes just days after the Hollywood star attended a spiritual retreat at the Hilandar Monastery located in Greece. 

Gibson kept it casual wearing a pair of denim blue jeans as well as a dark navy polo shirt and white crocs. 

He cradled a few items in his arms including a pair of shades as he walked alongside two friars as they headed to get gelato. 

Beforehand, the small group was also seen grabbing a yummy Italian meal at a popular restaurant called Settimio All’Arancio. 

Mel Gibson, 69, indulged in tasty gelato while accompanied by two friars during an outing in Rome on Wednesday

It comes just days after the Hollywood star attended a spiritual retreat at the Hilandar Monastery located in Greece

The trio were seen holding a conversation as they quickly stopped inside a gelateria and left after purchasing small cups of the sugary dessert. 

At one point, Mel flashed a small smile as he was greeted by a couple fans during his excursion in Rome. 

Last month in June, the Oscar winner was also spotted in Italy as he chowed down on a plate of pasta. 

Gibson also recently paid a visit to Hilandar Monastery in Greece for several days – which is one of 20 monasteries on Mount Athos (the Holy Mount). 

The actor was seen with Orthodox monks and additionally spent some of his time there in solitude and reflection, according to To Vima – a Greek weekly newspaper.  

According to the outlet, Mel told monks during his pilgrimage: ‘I’ve never felt such a strong connection with God anywhere else as I do here.’ 

The Hilandar Monastery – which is also known as a Serbian monastery – was first constructed in the year 1198. 

Monks at the monastery will ‘spend a third of their day in services, a third in contemplation and physical labor, and a third resting,’ per the official website. 

Gibson kept it casual wearing a pair of denim blue jeans as well as a dark navy polo shirt and white crocs

The trio were seen holding a conversation as they quickly stopped inside a gelateria and left after purchasing small cups of the sugary dessert

At one point, Mel flashed a small smile as he was greeted by a couple fans during his excursion in Rome

He cradled a few items in his arms including a pair of shades as he walked alongside two friars as they headed to get gelato

The actor was seen ordering a scoop of gelato at a counter 

Mel was seen quickly trying out his tasty dessert before heading back outside with the two friars 

The actor was seen sitting a table across from one of the friars while also enjoying dinner in the the city

Gibson also recently paid a visit to Hilandar Monastery in Greece for several days – which is one of 20 monasteries on Mount Athos (the Holy Mount)

During the summer season, ‘the first set of daily services begins between 2 – 4 a.m. and continues until the morning. Other services occupy part of the afternoon and early evening.’ 

Gibson is preparing to begin filming The Resurrection Of The Christ, which is the long-awaited sequel to the 2004 movie The Passion Of The Christ. 

Upon the controversial film’s initial release, it was met with mixed reviews but was a box office success and brought in around $612 million globally. 

The Oscar-nominated project also became the highest-grossing independent film of all time as well as highest-grossing Christian film of all time. 

Jim Caviezel is set to reprise his role as Jesus Christ, with Maia Morgenstern returning as Jesus’ mother Mary and Francesco De Vito as Peter. 

Plot details have remained under wraps, with Mel set to both co-write the script and also direct.  

In March, it was reported that production will officially begin next month in August with Cinecitta Studios in Rome, per Variety. 

Scenes are slated to be shot in the southern Italian town of Madera as well as other locations such as Ginosa and Altamura. 

The actor was seen with Orthodox monks and additionally spent some of his time there in solitude and reflection, according to To Vima – a Greek weekly newspaper

According to the outlet, Mel told monks during his pilgrimage: ‘I’ve never felt such a strong connection with God anywhere else as I do here’

Monks at the monastery will ‘spend a third of their day in services, a third in contemplation and physical labor, and a third resting,’ per the official website

Gibson is preparing to begin filming The Resurrection Of The Christ, which is the long-awaited sequel to the 2004 movie The Passion Of The Christ

Upon the controversial film’s initial release, it was met with mixed reviews but was a box office success and brought in around $612 million globally

The Oscar-nominated project also became the highest-grossing independent film of all time as well as highest-grossing Christian film of all time

A few months earlier in May, it was announced that Lionsgate will distribute the sequel worldwide, per The Hollywood Reporter. 

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson said in a statement: ‘For many, many people across the globe, The Resurrection Of The Christ is the most anticipated theatrical event in a generation. 

‘It is also an awe-inspiring and spectacularly epic theatrical film that is going to leave moviegoers worldwide breathless.’ 

He added, ‘Mel is one of the greatest directors of our time, and this project is both deeply personal to him and the perfect showcase for his talents as a filmmaker. 

‘My relationship with Mel and Bruce dates back 30 years, and I am thrilled to be partnering with them once again on this landmark event for audiences,’ Adam said, referencing to Gibson’s Icon Productions partner Bruce Davey. 

Gibson also shared, ‘Lionsgate’s brave, innovative spirit and nimble, can-do attitude have inspired me for a long time, and I couldn’t think of a more perfect distributor for The Resurrection Of The Christ.

‘I’ve enjoyed working with Adam and the team several times over recent years. I know the clever ingenuity, passion, and ambition the entire team commits to their projects and I’m confident they will bring everything they can to the release of this movie.’ 

Mel also opened up about the project during an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience earlier this year. 

Jim Caviezel (seen above) is set to reprise his role as Jesus Christ, with Maia Morgenstern returning as Jesus’ mother Mary and Francesco De Vito as Peter

A few months earlier in May, it was announced that Lionsgate will distribute the sequel worldwide, per The Hollywood Reporter

He stated that the upcoming movie is ‘very ambitious’ and said the premise will follow, ‘the fall of the angels to the death of the last apostle.’ 

Gibson continued, ‘I think in order to really tell the story properly you have to really start with the fall of the angels, which means you’re in another place, you’re in another realm. You need to go to hell. You need to go to Sheol.’

The star further expressed, ‘It’s about finding the way in that’s not cheesy or too obvious. 

‘I think I have ideas about how to do that and how to evoke things and emotions in people from the way you depict it and the way you shoot it. So I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.’ 

Mel admitted that tackling the film is ‘not going to be easy, and it’s going to require a lot of planning and I’m not wholly sure I can pull it off.

He stated that the upcoming movie is ‘very ambitious’ and said the premise will follow, ‘the fall of the angels to the death of the last apostle’; seen in 2024 in L.A. 

‘To tell you the truth, it’s super ambitious. But I’ll take a crack at it because that’s what you’ve got to do, right, walk up to the plate, right?’  

And while talking to the National Catholic Register in 2022, he stated that the movie is ‘not a linear narrative,’ per Variety. 

Gibson explained, ‘You have to juxtapose the central event that I’m trying to tell with everything else around it in the future, in the past and in other realms, and that’s kind of getting a little sci-fi out there. 

‘I think in order to really tell the story properly you have to really start with the fall of the angels, which means you’re in another place, you’re in another realm. You need to go to hell.’