Movie Synopsis: The Conclave

[MarieT]

Many of us have read rather alarming reviews on the latest film to come out regarding the behind the scenes goings-on from the Vatican Conclave.

Bishop Barron has taken it on board to warn Catholics not to watch the film.
Many other priests also.

Interestingly, not our priest - he organised a parish outing to the cinemas to watch it.

Another reviewer mentioned the legendary myth of "pope joan" a supposed female infiltrating to become a pope....though no evidence exists to this myth. Even the staunch anti Catholic writers looking for something against Catholics couldn't find anything substantial so dont even use the myth.

As per my former posts, it was evident I wanted to watch "The Conclave" - not because of the hoo-haa and drama the reviewers wrote about it, but to experience the visual of the goings on in the Vatican, and what happens when a Pope dies, the behind the scenes and cardinals...etc.

The viewer experiences melodramatic power struggles from within and a final twist at the end that in my opinion, otherwise ruins a good story. Parts of the story are canonically incorrect....but lets press on...

In today's context, Bergoglio has set in motion a cascade of changes from the beginning of his pontificate till the present day. A few years ago, he stated that he did not want to be buried at the Vatican places for popes, but chose elsewhere. Then a string of new cardinals appointed that were to be trained to be "progressive"......Bergoglio wanted to leave his so called "legacy" of changing the church.

Back to the film, but one can draw similarities...... Those who have not seen it and wish to view it, be wary of spoiler alerts that will be posted below.

The movie commences with the death of the pope and the rush to put ecclesiastical protocol / procedures in place. The Pope is dead. The Throne is vacant

The leading character, (Dean of College of Cardinals - Dean Lawrence) brilliantly portrayed by Ralph Fiennes sheds tears and feels the profundity of the moment. He is advised that he wasnt called earlier because .....(.unusual and odd excuses given.)

His job is to supervise the election of the next pope. The cardinals are summoned from around the world, they are sequestered to be shielded from outside media news or interference....to shield their judgement or attempts to influence them.

Cardinal Berlini played by Stanley Tucci states that no one wants to be Pope and the ones that do want to be, are the dangerous ones. Everyone knows the Dean (Fienes) does not want to be included in the running. He is set to give Berlini his vote.

While shielded from outside interference in swaying their decisions, they are not shielded from each other. There are groups which plan who they are going to vote for.....Berlini (Tucci) is the choice of the Dean and their close circle group that deem him capable of the role.

Card. Berlini seems a great character until he states that he has to stop Card. Tedesco (traditionalist) from winning, so to advertise to the others that he is a progressive and knows the situation re lgbt...same gender unions etc.......
Those in his circle are shocked but will still vote for him...."bummer" - already the change....willing to sacrifice his principles just so a traditionalist doesnt win......

The traditionalist and likely other candidate is Cardinal Tedesco ....a gruff and rude cardinal who wants to restore the latin mass and the church to its traditional glory.......sounds great, but sadly he is portrayed as a self centred rude and arrogant man......a pity.....

another likely candidate is a man that the Dean gets warned was defrocked and sacked by the pope just before the pope died......accusations of simony and inappropriate actions....he was also the last to be seen by the pope before died.....hmmm wondering if he had something to do with the death??.....nothing points to that for the rest of the film though and the plot thickens.....

The dean confronts him but he shrugs the matter aside saying that the archbishop that brought the accusations to light was a drunk (he was drinking after the death of the pope to null his intense grief)......no evidence exists so the dean decides he cannot act further. Later when he breaks the seal to the deceased pope's room and enters and discovers a hidden wall bracket section, and finds all the conflicting evidence, he does confront the cardinal who still refuses to step down .....printings are made by the head nun at the dean's request and enveloped and placed at each cardinal's desk ......the nun steps in when the dean is accused etc and tells the story......the others are shocked....out goes this cardinal from the running

Another likely and popular candidate is an african cardinal....they find him delightful and witty and in one count he scores very high but not enough to get the 2/3 votes brequired. Yet another drama unfolds when a nun serving him realises she knows him ...tray is dropped....he goes off angry....she runs off crying.......The plot reveals at 19 she had relations with him and a male child was born and put in fostercare. When the Dean confronts him, he breaks down and said it was one mistake he did in his life and why have to pay for it now....He is emotionally remorseful though and withdraws from running for Pope after the Dean advises him.

The introduction of a mystery character enfolds. The dean is advised that a cardinal has arrived from afghanistan with documentation that the Pope appointed him cardinal privately but he has the necessary documentation and the seal of the pope to prove it......

The young man is humble and quiet ......yet stories unfold of him how brave he was in war torn places, building of a hospital etc....

He is eventually voted in as Pope and accepts the position. He was a favourite of the previous pope it is evident......

Then the twist happens. It was found when he went for a routine procedure to remove his appendix, the surgeon discovered he had a uterus and ovaries. Though born a man, he had both organs. He met with the previous deceased pope to offer his resignation on this finding but the Pope had convinced him to have a surgical procedure to remove the internal organs. This newly appointed Pope states to the Dean, that he didnt go through with the procedure citing that if God had created him both genders, who was he to interfere with the creation.

So i guess thats where the reviews citing a "pope joan" were referring to.

Overall an eye opening film .....but that ending really ruined it i believe. The author of the fictional story, though using stories of power hungry cardinals in it, and wanting to show they would cover things to progress, didn't need a silly ending like that. It ruins the story and the viewer walks away with a bad feeling, after delighted that he had won and was the new pope.

[MarieT]

corrupt cardinal scene

[Johnna]

My husband watched this movie. He said the twist ending turned the whole story into a joke.