A fictional papal election became an unlikely guide for real cardinals choosing a successor.
In short: When Pope Francis died in April 2025, the political thriller Conclave saw a massive surge in viewership. Cardinals reportedly watched the film to study the mechanics of the election process, and the newly elected Pope Leo XIV was among those who viewed the drama before his own conclave began.
Directed by Edward Berger and released in 2024, Conclave depicts the high-stakes maneuvering within the Vatican following a pope's sudden death. The film follows Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, played by Ralph Fiennes, as he manages the election of a successor while uncovering scandals among the leading candidates. The narrative balances the solemnity of the College of Cardinals with the intense, often cynical political pressure inherent in such a transition. Its production design, including a set modeled after the Sistine Chapel, aimed to heighten the tension of the sequestered environment.
The film’s reception was polarized between critical praise and ecclesiastical critique. While reviewers lauded the performances and the film’s ability to turn a procedural process into a gripping mystery, some Catholic commentators argued that the film caricatured internal church factions and relied on sensationalist tropes. Critics pointed to the film's portrayal of doubt as a central tenet of faith and the protagonist's handling of confession as elements that undermined Catholic doctrine. Others criticized the film for its perceived progressive bias and for allegedly using the Nigerian candidate, Cardinal Adeyemi, to propagate racialized stereotypes regarding sexual misconduct.
Despite these criticisms, the film became a cultural phenomenon, bridging the gap between prestige cinema and internet meme culture. Its release in October 2024 coincided with the U.S. presidential election, leading social media users to draw parallels between the film's power struggles and real-world politics. The film’s unexpected relevance peaked in 2025, when the death of Pope Francis transformed the fictional story into a practical reference point. As cardinals prepared for the real-life conclave in May 2025, the film served as an educational tool for some, illustrating the strange way that modern entertainment can mirror, and even influence, the perception of ancient, secretive institutions.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Conclave (film)
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