Angelina Jolie
Actress and campaigner Angelina Jolie arrives at a summit to end sexual violence in conflict, at the Excel centre in London June 13, 2014. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor Reuters

Angelina Jolie has met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The A-list Hollywood star hosted a special screening of her directorial film “Unbroken” on Thursday, and the Pope personally welcomed her after the screening.

The 39-year-old U.N. special envoy got the chance to meet with the Roman Pontiff after presenting her film to the Vatican. The biopic is based on the life of Olympic athlete-turned-bomber pilot Louis Zamperini who spent almost two months on a raft in the Pacific Ocean when his plane went down during the World War II. He was later captured and tortured by the Japanese, and was set free after the war.

Zamperini’s son Luke, a cast member and two of Jolie’s daughters were also present for the special screening. According to the Associated Press, the pope did not watch the film, but met with Jolie afterward when she was brought to the Apostolic Palace.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told the AP that the meeting wasn’t a formal audience, but just a brief and cordial greeting. Pope Francis paid particular attention to the mother of six, as well as her daughters, who weren’t identified but speculated to be Shiloh and Zahara, who were seen with their mother in Rome the previous day.

“It all lasted just a few minutes, even though it was naturally very significant for those present,” Lombardi said. He also praised the film for showing “positive human and spiritual values, in particular forgiveness.”

Prior to their meeting, Jolie said she was honoured by the Vatican’s interest in her film.

“Being invited with my film to the Vatican is an honour and a great tribute to the story that I have told in ‘Unbroken,’” she said in a statement. “The story of the hero Louis a great example of strength and forgiveness.”

Brad Pitt, Jolie’s equally famous husband, was also scheduled to attend the screening at the Vatican, but according to Us magazine, he didn’t come due to a “last minute change.”

“Unbroken,” starring Jack O’Connell and Japanese rocker Miyavi, filmed in Australia in 2013. It had its Sydney premiere on Nov 17, 2014.