Matthew McConaughey drops new hint about politics after meeting Pope Leo XIV

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Actor Matthew McConaughey said he could see himself “adding to or working on” a constitution built around common ground among religions.

McConaughey, who calls himself an aggressively centrist Christian, has previously been asked about running for office, including governor of his home state.

The comments came in a USA TODAY interview, published on Saturday, August 15, after his meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City.

Matthew McConaughey says religion could inform politics

McConaughey said he sees common ground among religions as something that could inform a political system.

“There’s still a constitution out there to be written that all religions could agree on,” he told USA TODAY. “There's so much commonality.”

He said he was interested in the possibility of “adding to or working on” such a constitution, calling it “a great thing to share.”

McConaughey also drew a line between religious teachings and the separation of church and state.

“Even though I agree with the separation of church and state, the values of those should bleed down into the values of any political system,” he said.

His comments frame religion less as a formal role for churches in government and more as a source of values he believes can influence political systems.

He also described life itself as “essentially a religious experience,” saying people can learn from religious texts and teachings “how to treat others and how to treat ourselves.”

Matthew McConaughey ties politics talk to Pope meeting

The discussion followed McConaughey’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV during the pontiff’s weekly general audience at St Peter’s Basilica earlier this month.

McConaughey said he had wanted to discuss religion’s place in the modern world and ask where it stands as a “moral compass.”

“Where is religion today? Why has it declined? Why do we see a surge in youth running toward it?” he said he wanted to ask.

He said young people are “looking for some structure” and seeking more than what the world around them has provided.

McConaughey also wanted to discuss artificial intelligence with the Pope, including the standards that should guide its development and use.

“Going forward, ‘what are the standards going to be with AI?’” he asked. 

He warned that some people are already looking to AI as “their digital God,” while arguing that AI could reflect humanity’s values through the questions people ask and the results they seek.

He said there is “great upside” to AI but also “a definite need for caution,” adding that people must remain the users of the technology.

Politics remains an open question for McConaughey

McConaughey has faced questions for years about whether he would seek political office. 

Last year, he told People magazine he would not consider a move into politics until his three children were fully grown.

Asked by the outlet whether the Pope meeting changed his perspective on running, McConaughey remained noncommittal.

The actor had previously described himself as “aggressively centrist,” and his latest comments continue to center on common values rather than a specific office or campaign.

His interest in political work also remains conditional in his own words. 

He did not announce a candidacy, but said working on a constitution that could find agreement among religions “would be a great thing to share.”