The recent passing of Pope Francis was very devastating, especially for those a part of the Catholic Church. However, the events that transpired and the upcoming conclave to choose his successor allow for a special edition of “Movies I’ve Seen,” featuring a look into the film “Conclave” and the real-life voting process for the Pope it is based around.
Yes, this is a little late for a review, but due to the circumstances, it is justified. The film was released around Halloween last year, and was a critical and commercial sensation, grossing north of $100 million and receiving eight Oscar nominations. It is important to note that despite its financial success, this was by no means a blockbuster popcorn movie, at least in the traditional sense. There were no guns or explosions (well, one explosion), and no big, strong action heroes (unless Stanley Tucci counts). The film is set within the confines of a massive guesthouse, which essentially looks like a hotel, and within the Sistine Chapel, which is where the voting for the next Pope takes place. Besides this, none of the film’s characters get out much, and essentially spend the entire film gossiping with each other as the voting occurs.
Who are these characters? The film’s protagonist is made-up Cardinal Lawrence, portrayed by Ralph Fiennes, who is appointed by the late Pope to run the ensuing conclave. By doing this, he deals with a colorful cast of old men vying for the coveted role of Pope, and as the voting gets more intense, so do the rumors; the film turns into a two-hour gossip fest between bald men who are hoping to become the most powerful man in the Catholic Church. The film is a wild ride, to put it lightly, but by the end of the film, it feels like the future of the Church, and the world as a whole, is actually at stake with whatever the Cardinals decide.
Many months later, and with an actual conclave just days away, the topics and discussions in the film are now going to be at the forefront of the actual debates. Subjects like gay and transgender rights, which play a major role in the movie, will be affected by this decision. For example, Pope Francis was a defender and advocate for gay rights and was responsible for a lot of progress in the Church regarding the subject. However, this sentiment is not shared by a lot, if not most, of the Catholic Church. There is a very good chance that whoever is named Pope may disagree with a lot of Pope Francis’s ideas. This may allow public thought on the issue to revert to what it was before, which was not so accepting.
The film discusses this at large, and several other important topics regarding the Papacy itself. Through the conversations between the contenders, the film is able to touch on themes like tradition, and despite many of the Cardinals’ very static beliefs, times are a-changin’, and it may be time for the Church to change with it. The characters also talk about the idea of power in and of itself, and how according to Lawrence, “no sane man would want the papacy. The men who are dangerous are the ones who do want it.” Maybe they just want to help and make a positive difference in the world, but there is a good chance that the power can be a little enticing in its own right, and who knows how many of the real-world candidates are in it for this reason alone.
What can the average person do about all of this? Technically, they can win the Papacy if voted on by enough of the Cardinals (if they are a Catholic man, that is), but in a much more realistic sense, absolutely nothing at all. More likely than not, it will be one of the Cardinals that has earned the respect of their peers and their communities, and not the Christmas and Easter Catholic. However, when the actual voting commences next week, maybe there will be a better understanding amongst the common man of what is actually going on, and hopefully, whoever wins is in it for the right reason, whatever that may be.