The Pope Skips Out on Vatican Movie Premiere

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The Nativity Story made it’s world premiere this Sunday at an unlikely location: the Vatican. The story of Mary and Joseph before the birth of Jesus drew big names, including the man known as the “Deputy Pope.”

The audience of some 8,000 people who attended a benefit gala premiere in the Vatican's vast Paul VI Hall broke into applause five times during the screening and again at the end. It was the first feature film to premiere at the Vatican.

"It is well done," said Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's Secretary of State, who ranks second only to Pope Benedict in the Vatican hierarchy.

"It re-proposes this event which changed history with realism but also with a sense of great respect of the mystery of the nativity," he told reporters afterwards. "It is a good cinematic event...the judgment is positive."

Despite the glowing reviews, there were two notable faces missing from the premiere; the film’s star, Keisha Castle-Hughes, and the big guy in charge, Pope Benedict. Rumors swirled before the premiere that the Pope felt uncomfortable attending the premiere because of Castle-Hughes’ delicate condition; the 16-year-old actress, who played the role of Mary, is pregnant and unwed. Insiders claimed that Castle-Hughes, who also starred in 2002's Whale Rider, skipped the event in an effort to convince the Pope to attend. Vatican reps stated the decision had nothing to do with teenage pregnancy. Officials said the 79-year-old chose to rest before his upcoming trip to Turkey.

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