Conclave Movie Review: Fact or Fiction in Electing the Next Pope

According to Google Trends’ global search data, “Who will be the next Pope” follows closely after “Pope Francis’ Death.” Naturally, interest in the Conclave is rising.

The Conclave, from the Latin com (together) and clavis (key), is a locked, secret meeting where Cardinals gather to elect a new Pope. Because they are sworn to secrecy, the true process has remained hidden from the public since the first Conclave in 1276. Having watched nearly every available documentary and video about the Vatican City without finding a clear picture of what happens, one of your few options is to turn to Conclave (2024), a Hollywood take on this secretive event.

Conclave (2024) Movie Review
Directed by Edward Berger, a German-born director, Conclave is a thriller film starring Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence, tasked with leading a conclave following the passing of the Pope, played by Bruno Novelli.

While the debate over the accuracy of the Conclave movie continues, with some Catholic Church elders arguing the dramatised 2024 film is detached from the real events and rituals of the conclave, Conclave masterfully paints a vivid picture of the atmosphere and rituals that happen before and during the conclave at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, at least for the general public.

Conclave (2024)’s biggest strength is its attention to detail. Scenes like the dismantling of the Pope’s ring, sealing the door to the Pope’s apartment and the arrival of the Sacred College Cardinals from all over the world for these secretive and ancient events make the Conclave worth watching. You literally feel the tradition in every frame. Beats nothing!

The Conclave casting is solid! Italian filmmaker and actor Sergio Castellitto plays Cardinal Tedesco from Italy, Carlos Diehz as Cardinal Vincent from Latin America, and John Lithgow takes on Cardinal Tremblay from America. Jacek Koman plays Wozniak, an Archbishop who struggles with a drinking problem, Cardinal Adayemi from Nigeria, played by Lucian Msamati, Stanley Tucci as Aldo Bellini, and Isabella Rossellini playing Sister Agnes. Each actor perfectly reflects the cultural traits of their region.

Smaller details like Sister Shanum’s (played by Balkissa Maiga) patched hands add weight to the film’s quiet moments.

Despite the strengths, Conclave has faced criticism for casting actors who, in real life, do not share or respect Catholic beliefs. Some viewers also find the ending unnecessary, feeling it undermines the dignity of the position and the Roman Curia. Father David Michael Moses described Conclave as a movie aimed at people of religious belief, especially Catholics, but criticised its ending for alienating the very audience it seemed intended for.

Notable Quotes from Conclave (2024) Movie

“Our faith is a living thing, precisely because it walks hand-in-hand with doubt. If there were only certainty… and not doubt. There would be no mystery and therefore no need for faith.”

“Certainty is the deadly enemy of tolerance; even Christ was not certain at the end, further quoting Mark 15:33-34 in Italiano”

“The man who believes in homosexuals should be sent to prison in this world, and hell in the next.”

“What am I supposed to tell them in Milan when they start to discover our new Pope’s social views? –  Tell your congregation that they should celebrate the first African Pope in the history of the Church”

“Let’s not mention women”😂

How Accurate is the Conclave (2024) Movie to a real Conclave?
According to Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, who participated in a real conclave in 2013, the movie Conclave is not accurate. He explained that, in reality, a conclave feels more like a spiritual retreat, filled with prayer, silence, and spiritual talks, rather than the political scheming and backroom plotting portrayed by the Hollywood Conclave (2024) film.

O’Malley highlighted that when Cardinals cast their vote, they stand before Michelangelo’s image of Christ in the Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel. They swear before God that they are voting for the person they believe is God’s choice. That’s a deeply spiritual moment, not something political.

According to Cardinal Seán O’Malley, the real conclave focuses on serving the Church and connecting with the Holy Spirit, rather than seeking worldly power, taking a different direction from what was portrayed in the Conclave (2024) movie.

Nevertheless, Conclave is worth watching. Big applause to Ralph Fiennes, he cooked!