Pope Francis to make movie debut playing himself in children's gospel film

Close up ready … Pope Francis greets the crowds, 1 February. Photograph: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

Pope Francis ^[1], the head of the global Catholic church, is to be the first pope to appear in a film. The pontiff will play himself in Beyond the Sun, an Italian-made family movie based on the gospels, which was inspired by the Pope's call for film-makers to cater for children when thinking about how Jesus's message should be communicated through cinema.

All profits from the film are to be donated to two Argentinian charities that help at-risk children and young adults. Shooting is due to begin imminently in Italy.

Andrea Iervolino, co-founder of AMBI Pictures, who will fund and distribute the film, said:

Our excitement and gratitude toward His Holiness, Pope Francis, participating in this film is beyond words. This is not just a movie for us, it's a message, and who better to have on your side to deliver an important societal and spiritual message than the Pope?

However, there are conflicting reports about the scale of Pope Francis's involvement in the project. Initial indications suggested he would figure significantly through the movie; information on AMBI's site mentions only "an epilogue from Pope Francis telling children how and where to find Jesus".

A Vatican spokesman added on Monday: "The pope is not an actor."

Pope Francis's cinephilia – his favourite films are Rome, Open City ^[2], Babette's Feast ^[3] and La Strada ^[4] – has won him artistic as well as spiritual credibility in the industry, with many film-makers seeking his approval, particularly if their movie carries Christian content.

In 2012, Steve Coogan hosted a special screening of Philomena ^[6], about an Irish woman whose son was sold by nuns, at the Vatican; in January 2015, Angelina Jolie presented her film Unbroken to the pope ^[7]. Last week, Leonardo DiCaprio ^[8] met the pope – but to discuss climate change, rather than screen him new movie The Revenant.