LONDON: Pope Francis has been invited to watch a British film about an Irish woman ’s tryst with the Catholic Church which banished her to a convent for conceiving a child out of wedlock which she was forced to give up.

Producers and makers of the film ‘Philomena’ which has been nominated for various awards this year including the Oscars and Bafta have offered to hold a personal screening for Pope Francis.

The movie portrays nuns in Ireland in questionable light and has enraged Catholics throughout the world.

A spokesman has confirmed that talks are on with the Vatican about a possible screening for the Pope in Rome.

The producers say the Vatican has been receptive to the idea of a private screening for the Pope.

The movie is based on the book ‘The Lost Child of Philomena Lee’ by journalist Martin Sixsmith. The story revolved around Philomena Lee’s journey to be reunited with her son who was taken from her by nuns and given for adoption to a family in America. Lee’s role has been played by Dame Judi Dench.

Lee is now leading the Philomena Project which has been campaigning for Ireland to open the adoption records for thousands of other mothers whose children ended up in the US after being forcefully given up for adoption.

Makers of the movie feel that the Pope could influence the decision making if he sees the film.

Lee said, “I’ve been so moved by the support we’ve gotten both for telling our story and for bringing attention to this horrible experience that so may of us had.”

“In recent weeks and months, we’ve received an outpouring of support from across the globe and now we’re harnessing that support to create positive change for families in Ireland and the United States. I’m proud and honoured to be a part of this because it is my hope that every mother and child who wants to be reunited is able to come together once again,” she added.

The movie’s producer Harvey Weinstein is believed to have visited Switzerland last month to meet with representatives from the Vatican and is coordinating the screening.

Lee was in Dublin on 24th January to launch the project which in association with the Adoption Rights Alliance aims to effect legislative change by calling on the Irish state to grant access to adoption records for both in-country and Irish-US adopted people and their families. There are over 60,000 “adoption” files which are not in the public domain.

In 1952, Philomena Lee became pregnant as a teenager and was sent to Sean Ross Abbey, a ‘Mother and Baby Home’ in Roscrea, County Tipperary. When her son was three years old, he was taken away, sold for adoption and sent to America.