Pope to Host Scorsese as New Film Unveiled to Priests

"Goodfellas" director Martin Scorsese is to be granted a private audience with Pope Francis on Wednesday after unveiling his latest film to an audience of 400 Jesuits, the Vatican said.

"Silence", an adaptation of Shusaku Endo's 1966 novel of the same name, tells the story of two Jesuit missionaries (played by Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) who visit 17th century Japan in the footsteps of their mentor (Liam Neeson).

Francis was not due to attend the screening of the film in Rome on Tuesday, despite its subject being close to his heart.

A member of the Jesuit order, the Argentinian pontiff wanted to become a missionary in Japan himself as a young man but was prevented from doing so by ill health.

Scorsese's numerous acclaimed films include 1988's "The Last Temptation of Christ", which was condemned as blasphemous by some Christian groups.

The veteran director was to attend the Rome screening of his latest work, for which a senior figure in the Jesuit order was employed as a consultant. 

The order, officially known as the Society of Jesus, also granted the production team access to its historical archives for research. 

The film is due for release in the United States on December 23.