java.lang.NullPointerException at javax.faces.webapp.FacesServlet.init(FacesServlet.java:144)

Error Message

When viewing Web Mapping applications deployed on Tomcat version 5.5.20, the following error is displayed:

"java.lang.NullPointerException at javax.faces.webapp.FacesServlet.init(FacesServlet.java:144)"

Cause

This is a known issue with the 5.5.20 distribution of Apache Tomcat.

Solution or Workaround

1. Add the following to the <Tomcat Folder>\webapps\<web app name>\WEB-INF\web.xml file:
   
   

   Code:
   <listener>
   <listener-class>com.sun.faces.config.ConfigureListener</listener-class >
   </listener>

   
   
   
2. Re-start the Tomcat service.