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Pope Francis met director Martin Scorsese a day after the director's new film, Silence, about Portuguese Jesuits in 17th-century Japan, was shown to an audience of 300 Jesuit priests at a pontifical college. The Guardian reports.

The Vatican said Francis had received Scorsese, his wife and two daughters, and the 15-minute meeting was “very cordial”. The pope told the group that he had the book that inspired Silence, and they spoke about the experience of Jesuit missionaries in Japan.

Francis did not attend the showing at the pontifical university on Tuesday, but the theme of the film was seen as being close to the pope’s heart. When Francis was young he joined a Jesuit order with the aim of becoming a missionary in Asia, a wish that was never fulfilled because of his health problems.

Another screening of the film will be held on Thursday. It is unclear whether Francis will attend.