will become the first feature film ever to premiere at the Vatican, on Sunday. The New Line Cinema motion picture is due to release in the U.S. Dec 1, and worldwide later in the month.

Screenwriter Mike Rich, an evangelical Christian who also wrote Finding Forrester and The Rookie, is due to be among guests at the special screening at the Vatican's Aulo Paolo VI (Pope Paul VI Hall) along with actors Shohreh Aghdashloo and Oscar Isaac.

A benefit event, the premiere will raise money to help with construction of a school in Mughar, an Israeli village not far from Nazareth that has a diverse population of Christians, Muslims and Druze.

New Line President and Chief Operating Officer of Worldwide Distribution and Marketing Rolf Mittweg said the company was proud the Vatican had embraced the film. “We believe it is the perfect venue to present the film's universal message of hope and faith,” he said in a statement.

Christian retailers are anticipating healthy interest in ancillary and related books and other products as the film opens. Tyndale House Publishers has released five books based on the movie as part of its exclusive rights agreement. Other publishers hope for interest in other Christmas-related titles.

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