Ingrid Bergman / After life

Near the end when talking about Ingrid and her death he says "I accept that I'm going to meet Ingrid again. And ive completely crossed out that other nightmare thought that ill never meet her."... is this his way of dealing with the depressing "nightmare thought" , or did he really believe that?... I thought he came out later in life as an atheist?... I don't know. Can one still believe in an alternative after-life rather than a heavenly/ religious one? ... he was a very interesting guy who seemed as though he never had a definitive way of looking at this subject, which is understandable.

I just cant see someone, atheist or agnostic, saying that.