The death of Pope Francis at the age of 88 has ushered in a historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church. It’s not only the end of an era, but also the beginning of a centuries-old tradition—the selection of a new pope, a process known as the papal conclave.
The world’s attention is now on Vatican City, as the Church prepares for a ritual that has remained “largely unchanged for centuries.”
Inside the “Conclave”
“Conclave” is more than just a formal term—it literally means “with a key,” reflecting the secrecy that surrounds the event. Cardinals under the age of 80 will soon gather from around the globe to vote for the next pope. Their lives will be on lockdown inside the Vatican’s Domus Sanctae Marthae, where they’ll be cut off from the outside world—no phones, computers, or news.
Each day, up to four ballots can be cast, with a two-thirds majority required to elect a new pope. The traditional smoke signals will follow each round: fumata nera (black smoke) if the vote is inconclusive, fumata bianca (white smoke) when a new pope has been chosen.
If no one is elected after three days, voting is paused for a day of prayer and reflection.
Once a candidate is chosen, he’s asked if he accepts the role—and what name he will take. No pope in the last 470 years has kept his birth name. The new pope’s reign officially begins when he steps out onto the balcony at St. Peter’s Basilica and the senior cardinal deacon announces, “Habemus papam”—“We have a pope.”
“Conclave” Film Blurs the Line Between Fiction and Reality
The 2024 film “Conclave” has seen a surge in attention since Pope Francis’ death. The Oscar-winning drama—nominated for eight Academy Awards and winning Best Adapted Screenplay—offers a fictionalized but strikingly accurate glimpse into the inner workings of the conclave.
The film stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini, and is based on Robert Harris’s bestselling novel. Fiennes plays Cardinal Lawrence, a central figure in a story full of power plays and secrets. While the ending is a dramatic twist that has never happened in real life, much of the process shown is rooted in fact.
As Peter Straughan, the screenwriter, said: “This is the most secretive election in the world, it’s quite hard to get the inside scoop.” But the filmmakers did their homework. “We were given a private tour of the Vatican and they were quite welcoming, actually, quite helpful,” Straughan told USA Today. “It’s a fascinating and theatrical world, so you want to get those details right.”
Although filming at the Vatican wasn’t allowed, the team recreated the setting on soundstages and around Rome.
One striking character in the film is Sister Agnes, played by Rossellini—the only woman inside the conclave. While her role adds emotional and symbolic weight, it’s not based on reality. In the actual Church, only men can become priests and, by extension, cardinals—meaning only men can vote or be elected pope.
Still, the inclusion of Sister Agnes raises important questions about the role of women in the Church. “Conclave” uses fiction to explore real tensions around gender, tradition, and power.
Pope Francis in “Conclave”
Robert Harris, the author behind “Conclave”, admitted that his book was loosely inspired by Pope Francis to The New York Times. “I thought he was an interesting figure to take and to look at the risks and rivalries and problems that were under the surface,” Harris told The New York Times. “And I liked the idea of that sort of political tension under the surface.”
For his research, Harris even consulted the late Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, who later praised the book for its authenticity, writing that it was “just like a conclave.”
Now, with the real world reflecting the themes of the novel and film, the Church stands on the brink of change. The next pope will face mounting challenges—from declining church attendance and abuse scandals to calls for reform and inclusivity.
This moment is not just a ritual—it’s a reflection of the Church’s past, and a mirror of its hopes for the future. “Conclave” will begin streaming on Prime Video starting tomorrow.
