Martin Scorsese and Pope Francis swapped stories about Japan's so-called "hidden Christians" on Wednesday after a Vatican viewing of the director's epic new film on the subject.

In a private audience, Scorsese presented the pontiff with two religious Christian paintings from 17th-century Japan which he says helped guide his work on "Silence".

The movie, adapted from Shusaku Endo's 1966 novel of the same name, is about two Jesuit missionaries visiting Japan when Christians faced persecution and torture if their faith was discovered.

"Silence" got its world premiere among the roughly 300 Jesuits at the Vatican's Pontifical Oriental Institute -- though Francis was not among them.

The pope, who met for 15 minutes with the filmmaker, his wife and daughters, did tell them that though he missed the film, he had read the book, according to the Vatican.

As a young priest in Argentina, Jorge Bergoglio had wanted to serve as a missionary in Japan but gave up on the idea due to poor health.

Scorsese, a Hollywood legend who won an Academy Award for "The Departed", was raised as a Roman Catholic and his films often touch on religious themes.

His 1988 work "The Last Temptation of Christ" was condemned as blasphemous by some Christian groups.

Media were kept out of the "Silence" showing on Tuesday, but Jesuit priest Francesco Occetta tweeted afterwards: "A true film, but also a difficult one, which brings up deep questions."

The film is due for release in the United States on December 23.