"Conclave" Unveiled: Who Will Be Pope? (And Why This Film Echoes Reality)
Edward Berger's Academy Award-winning movie takes on new significance following the passing of Pope Francis.
Conclave The 2024 political thriller centered around a papal election and the hidden secrets beneath the cardinals' robes debuted at a propitious moment.
On April 21, fewer than six months since the film's U.S. release date, the Vatican issued a statement announcing that Pope Francis had died At the age of 88, a new conclave is now inevitable.
Directed by Edward Berger Everything Is Silent on the Western Front ), Conclave collected statues at the Golden Globes , the British Academy Film Awards, and the Critics' Choice Movie Awards . It also received eight Oscar nominations including an award for Best Picture, and took home the trophy for Best Adapted Screenplay.
The cast of Conclave includes heavy hitters like Ralph Fiennes , Stanley Tucci , John Lithgow , and Isabella Rossellini , where Fiennes and Rossellini were nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress awards, respectively.
" Conclave is filled with surprising turns, and its ultimate revelation is something audiences won’t anticipate, which is a rarity in contemporary filmmaking and signifies impeccable craftsmanship in thrillers." Entertainment Weekly 's critic raved in their review .
Let's discuss that big finale twist. Continue reading for our explanation. Conclave' and concludes with determining who wins the papacy.
What is Conclave about?
As its name implies, Conclave centers around the ancient Catholic custom where the College of Cardinals convenes to select a new head for their faith. In this film, Fiennes portrays Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, who orchestrates the gathering following the sudden death from a heart attack of the preceding pontiff.
Four front-runners stand out, embodying distinct sets of principles. Joshua Adeyemi portrayed by Lucian Msamati, embodies traditionalist conservatism with his fiery rhetoric. On the opposite end is Aldo Bellini played by Tucci, a forward-thinking leader akin to his predecessor. Then comes Goffredo Tedesco acted by Sergio Castellitto, known for harshly criticizing the past Pope and feeling that the Church has grown overly liberal. Lastly, we have Joseph Tremblay essayed by Lithgow, a centrist whose position might be linked to potential pressure from the recently deceased Pontiff.
Nevertheless, nobody secures the two-thirds majority needed to take on the position. Actually, Lawrence gets votes even though he states he has no desire to become pope.
As the days (and ballots) go by, hidden truths about the contenders come to light, leading to dashed hopes, fresh partnerships, and several uplifting addresses.
Who becomes pope in Conclave ?
It's not whom you would expect.
Ultimately, Cardinal Vincent Benitez (Carlos DÃez) emerges as the new head of the Church. Despite receiving minimal support during initial ballots, this enigmatic archbishop gradually ascends the hierarchy as other cardinal candidates face increasing challenges.
Benitez secures his win by delivering a passionate address advocating for tolerance following a suicide bombing near the Vatican. In contrast to Tedesco’s call for a crusade in reaction to the incident, Benitez advocates against responding to violence with further aggression. Instead, he challenges Tedesco’s conservative stance by asserting that the Church must look towards the future rather than reverting back to old ways.
On the seventh vote, Benitez is selected as the new pope. He decides to take the papal name "Innocent."
Who is Cardinal Vincent Nichols? Conclave ?
Prior to arriving at the Vatican, Cardinal Benitez, a Mexico-born archbishop of Kabul, was unfamiliar to numerous fellow cardinals. Nonetheless, he had a strong relationship with the recently deceased Pope, who appointed him to his role. in pectore , which was done covertly.
Given the aura of enigma surrounding Benitez, Lawrence seeks clarification from his aide, Monsignor O'Malley, who ( BrÃan F. O’Byrne ) to collect information about the archbishop. It turns out that Benitez seems to be dealing with an unspecified health problem. Additionally, it’s revealed that the former pope reportedly covered the costs for Benitez to travel to Switzerland for a medical treatment; however, it looks like Benitez ultimately canceled the trip.
How does Conclave end?
The final scenes of Conclave discover Lawrence addressing Benitez regarding the details of his canceled journey to Switzerland.
The reality turned out to be more complex than Lawrence anticipated: It emerges that Benitez is intersex, which means they were born with both a uterus and ovaries. The surgery arranged by the former pope was set to be a laparoscopic hysterectomy aimed at removing the uterus. Despite identifying as male, Benitez shares with Lawrence that he opted out of the procedure, feeling content being "as God created me."
Related: Conclave Writer Peter Straughan reacts to Megyn Kelly criticizing the film as 'anti-Catholic', saying he stands by it.
Benitez feels that his identity suits the role because he "dwells between absolutes," which reassures Lawrence. Earlier in the movie, Lawrence stated that "absolute certainty is the main foe of harmony."
He states, "Our belief is dynamic exactly because it progresses alongside uncertainty. In the absence of doubt and presence solely of certitude, there would be no enigma, and thus no requirement for faith."
What is the conclusion of Conclave mean?
Conclave Portrays the Catholic Church at a critical juncture, where contentious political groups reveal themselves to be shallow, self-centered, and insincere in their quest for authority. Additionally, as shown by Rossellini’s Sister Mary, it is an institution that clings to outdated views regarding gender roles. Despite this, even characters who appear progressive, such as Tucci's Bellini, aren’t exempt from engaging in underhanded negotiations backstage.
The movie suggests, however, that advancement is unavoidable. Through the election of Benitez, the cardinals inadvertently chose a leader who transcends conventional categories, thereby introducing fresh viewpoints into the Vatican. This forward-looking shift is symbolized by the sound of nuns' laughter.
Speaking with EW Berger looked back at the instance when the windows of the Vatican swung open, casting light into the "monastic, rather chilly, almost isolated" area. He stated, "The windows eventually opened up. My aim was for it to convey a sense of freedom; life rushes back in, along with feminine laughter, fresh air, breezes, sounds, and sunlight."
Is Conclave inspired by actual events?
No, Conclave is not inspired by real events, but rather it was adapted from a 2016 novel titled the same way by Robert Harris.
Harris disclosed that parts of the narrative drew inspiration from actual occurrences. He mentioned, "There’s supposedly a journal penned by a cardinal who was part of the gathering that chose Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI; this account details the voting procedure and efforts made to prevent Ratzinger." told TIME in a 2024 interview There was this highly esteemed liberal cardinal from Milan whom everyone anticipated would be elected as pope annually. Despite being the top choice consistently, he ended up placing third following the initial vote. This mirrors the role of the Stanley Tucci character in the film and introduces the personal narrative of a man whose lifelong aspirations were dashed at the last moment.
Related: Ralph Fiennes yells about something missing Conclave actor Stanley Tucci in top ensemble cast at SAG Awards victory
When this was written, the church was getting ready for a conclave following Pope Francis’ passing. It might not be as dramatic. As for whether it will be just as gossip-filled, only time will reveal that.
Where can I watch Conclave ?
Conclave is currently available on Amazon Prime Video .
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