Cardinals Monitor Conclave for Insights into Upcoming papal Election

Edward Berger’s gripping papal thriller Conclave captivated global audiences last year, offering a rare and dramatic glimpse into one of the most secretive processes in modern Catholicism: the ritualistic election of a new pope. As real-world Cardinals prepare to enter an actual conclave following the recent passing of Pope Francis, the film’s impact has taken on a surprising new dimension—some of the very religious leaders tasked with electing the next pontiff have reportedly turned to the movie for insight.

A papal cleric involved in the conclave process recently shared with Politico that Berger’s adaptation—starring Ralph Fiennes as the Dean of the College of Cardinals, who presides over the election—is being praised for its authenticity. According to the source, the film is regarded as “remarkably accurate even by Cardinals,” with some clerics admitting they watched it in theaters ahead of this historic event.

Pope Francis passed away in late April, just months after the film's release, prompting the formal conclave process. In accordance with tradition, 133 Cardinal electors from around the world will soon gather inside the Sistine Chapel to pray, deliberate, and ultimately cast their votes to choose the next spiritual leader of the global Catholic Church.

Notably, the majority of these Cardinals were personally appointed by Pope Francis and have no prior experience with the conclave ritual. Given the highly secretive nature of the proceedings—and the lack of accessible historical precedent—it’s understandable that some may find value in Conclave as a visual primer. This is especially true for those coming from smaller or more remote dioceses, where direct exposure to such high-level ecclesiastical traditions is limited.

As the eyes of the world turn toward Rome, the intersection of cinema and reality becomes ever more fascinating. [ttpp]