Exploring the Papal Conclave: Politics and Rituals in ‘Conclave’

The Papal Conclave: A Glimpse Inside

When a pope passes away, an assembly of cardinals under the age of 80 convenes at the Vatican to select his successor in a highly secretive gathering known as a conclave. In recent papal elections, the world has been granted rare insights into this enigmatic process, with television cameras capturing the elaborate rituals and solemn prayers that precede the pivotal voting moment.

However, the atmosphere changes dramatically when a Vatican official solemnly announces, “Extra omnes,” which translates to “all out,” signaling everyone else to vacate the Sistine Chapel. The immense wooden doors are then closed, marking the beginning of the cardinals’ crucial task of electing the next pope.

Edward Berger’s new film, “Conclave,” which premieres this Friday, transports audiences back into the sacred space of the Sistine Chapel, providing a rare, albeit fictionalized, glimpse into the confidential electoral proceedings of the Roman Catholic Church. Berger describes the film as an exploration of “ancient rituals clashing with modernity.”

The cast includes renowned actors such as Ralph Fiennes, who portrays Lawrence, the dean of the College of Cardinals, tasked with steering the papal election. Alongside him are Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, and Sergio Castellitto, all playing contenders for the papacy. These characters are not direct representations of real individuals but are rather amalgams of various factions within the church, encompassing both traditionalist and progressive viewpoints that echo the current dynamics within the institution.

As Robert Harris, the author of the 2016 novel that inspired the screenplay by Peter Straughan, aptly puts it, “It’s all politics in the end.”

While “Conclave” is not the first cinematic exploration of a papal election, it joins a lineage of church-centered mystery-thrillers that have captured the public’s imagination, including Dan Brown’s “Angels & Demons” and Raymond Khoury’s “The Last Templar.” These stories have consistently resonated with audiences, reflecting the intrigue that surrounds the complexities of church politics.

In “Conclave,” Fiennes and Tucci embody members of a progressive faction within the Roman Catholic Church, representing the diverse perspectives among the cardinals. Through their performances, the film seeks to illuminate the intricate balance of power and ideology that characterizes the papal election process.

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