Angelina Jolie Meets Pope, Screens her Film at the Vatican

Angelina Jolie started 2015 on a high note as she jetted to Rome, Italy to meet Pope Francis.

The Vatican revealed that the Hollywood actress, who is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and two of her children, Zahara and Shiloh, met with the pope after a private screening of her film, "Unbroken" on Thursday. The pope did not attend the screening, which took place at the Vatican.

The meeting, which took place in the throne room at the papal palace, was reportedly short. It ended with a humanitarian kissing of the Pope's ring.

Contrary to early reports, Jolie's husband, Brad Pitt, was not present due to a "last minute change."

"Unbroken" is a film based on Louis Zamperini, who was an American Olympian and World War Two Hero. The film depicts Zamperini's survival journey in a raft for 47 days before being captured by the Japanese navy after his plane was shot down during the war. Zamperini is played by Jack O'Connell.

"Being invited with my film to the Vatican is an honor and a great tribute to the story that I have told in Unbroken," the 39-year-old director and producer of the film said in a statement released by Universal Pictures to US Weekly. "The story of the hero Louis a great example of strength and forgiveness."

Universal Pictures Italia added, "Pope Francis, aware of the incredible life story of Louis Zamperini, graciously welcomed the opportunity to view the film and is expected to attend the screening at the Casina Pio IV, headquarters of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences."

Jolie hosted the screening with Zamperini's son, Luke.