Cardinals are watching Conclave

in order to prepare for the impending selection of a new Pope, a report reveals. Directed by Edward Berger, the papal thriller hit theaters last October, with Ralph Fiennes starring as Cardinal Lawrence, a cardinal who becomes entangled in a Catholic Church conspiracy as he leads the secretive ritual of the papal conclave to select a new Pope. The film, which also stars John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci, Lucian Msamati, and Isabella Rossellini, proved prescient. With Pope Francis having pᴀssed away on April 21, a real papal conclave approaches.

According to Politico, a selection of the 133 clerics poised to enter the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, May 7, for the papal conclave have watched Conclave, the film, in order to get a better idea of what awaits them. A cleric told the publication: “Some have watched it in the cinema.” The cleric goes on to explain that the film is seen by many as remarkably accurate to the real papal conclave process, making it useful as a means of researching what is to come.

The report notes that most of the cardinals participating in the event have never experienced a conclave and many are not familiar with the protocols and dynamics present in the Vatican. And, as in the film, many of the cardinals come from small dioceses across various regions of the globe.

What This Means For Conclave

The Film’s New Relevance Follows A Warm Reception

Conclave reviews were generally very positive from critics, meaning the film’s accuracy to real Vatican protocols and traditions follows a warm critical reception for its storytelling and performances. The positive reception to the movie led to a strong presence at various awards shows. Conclave was nominated for eight Oscars in total, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress, but walked away with only one win for Best Adapted Screenplay.

At the box office, Conclave ended its theatrical run with $119 million worldwide, an impressive sum for an adult drama about cardinals. Considering the film’s $20 million budget, this makes it a commercial success in addition to a critical one. The Conclave ending wraps the story up with some shocking developments, and while the real papal conclave may not be repeating certain story flourishes, the lead up to the event at the Vatican has had its own controversies, with several abuse allegations emerging, and at least one cardinal having been banned for his connection to a financial fraud.

Our Take On Real Cardinals Watching Conclave

The Ralph Fiennes Film Sheds Light On A Mysterious Event

In addition to featuring strong performances from the Conclave cast and an effective story filled with suspense and surprise reveals, the Focus Features movie is an interesting work of film because of the window it provides into a process that is shrouded in secrecy. While the movie certainly takes creative liberties with some elements and had to recreate locations like the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel due to not being able to film there, it seemingly effectively captures the atmosphere and the voting process with great accuracy.

The death of a Pope is a momentous event in the world of the Catholic Church and beyond, and there has been a mᴀssive outpouring of love for Pope Francis following his pᴀssing. While the papal conclave is certain to be a stressful process at the best of times, a lack of experience from the cardinals could add to this, and it marks another win for Conclave that the film has been helpful during this time.

Source: Politico