Pope Francis grants Martin Scorsese’s Christianity epic Silence a Vatican premiere It’s nearly 30 years since the Vatican condemned Martin Scorsese’s “blasphemous” The Last Temptation of Christ. But now the director’s […]

It’s nearly 30 years since the Vatican condemned Martin Scorsese’s “blasphemous” The Last Temptation of Christ.

But now the director’s new Christianity epic Silence has won the Pope’s seal of approval with a premiere screening at the seat of the Roman Catholic church.

The Oscar-tipped Silence, the story of two Jesuit missionaries sent into the Japanese jungle in the 17th century, will receive its first public screening at the Vatican, in front of an audience of several hundred Jesuits.

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Scorsese will present the film and is expected to meet Pope Francis, a film fan who shares a passion for Italian post-War neo-realist cinema with the feted American director.

Silence follows two priests, played by Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver, who are tortured and persecuted when they journey to Japan to find their mentor, played by Liam Neeson.

Based on a book by Japanese author Shūsaku Endō, the story of their attempts to spread the gospel to indigenous peoples during a time of persecution has won favour with the Vatican.

The Pope’s tacit endorsement is considered helpful for films trawling for Oscar votes – Angelina Jolie took her World War Two biopic Unbroken to Rome for a Vatican screening.

She was granted an audience with Pope Francis and the film subsequently garnered three Academy Award nominations.

Last Temptation outraged Catholic church

There appears to be joy in Rome over Scorsese’s “repentance.”

The Last Temptation of Christ, released in 1988, which featured a fantasy scene showing Jesus (Willem Dafoe) having sex with Mary Magdalene, was publicly condemned by the Vatican. Outraged Christian groups organised boycotts of the film.

Movie buff Pope Francis will make his feature film debut in Beyond the Sun, a family story telling the story of the Gospels next year. It will be the first time a Pope has appeared in a narrative film.

The Vatican also screened Call Me Francesco, a biopic based on the life of the current Pope.

Silence, a project Scorsese has pursued since 1991, is expected to be the Oscar-winner’s longest film, clocking in at 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Some 400 Jesuit priests are expected to attend the Vatican screening of the film, which opens on December 23.

@adamsherwin10