The 2024 thriller “Conclave,” starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, offers a glimpse into a fictitious religious conclave to select a new pope.
Zach Jansen, the digital content producer for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, explained that the movie begins with the death of a fictitious pope and jumps ahead three weeks to the gathering of cardinals for an official conclave, in which Fiennes portrays Cardinal Lawrence, the dean of cardinals.
Jansen told “Practicing Catholic” host Patrick Conley in a program set to air at 9 p.m. March 21 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM, “What happens is the factions start to begin of who’s going to vote for whom and he (Fiennes) is trying to find out who should be pope. There (are) some secrets that start to come out from some of the cardinals and some untoward-type things.”
Jansen described the movie as a political thriller disguised as a religious film. One of Jansen’s favorite lines early in the film is from Tucci’s character, who says, “No man in his right mind wants to be pope,” as the movie is about Fiennes’ character trying to discover who has the heart fit to be pope.
Jansen, who is a non-denominational Christian, suggests that it can be difficult for people to differentiate the holiness from the humanity in Catholic leaders. “Conclave” does just that, he argued, as it shows cardinals having the same flaws that most expect normal men to have.
“We don’t expect that from our religious leaders, but at the same time, once you get into any type of hierarchy or bureaucracy, you’re going to deal with politics of any type in any business. You have politics even in mom-and-pop diners with waitresses.”
However, much of the criticism of the movie is that the cardinals portrayed lack any redemptive quality and are all driven by ambition, pride and vanity. Also, Conley regarded the film as lacking divinity where people would be tenderhearted, forgiving and deferential.
Conley also mentioned that there are some dangers with a movie like “Conclave,” including that from a perspective outside the Catholic Church, there is an assumption that the filmmakers have done their research in how to best portray the faith, but the film falls down in this area.
To that, Jansen argued, “There’s enough truth sprinkled in there that we buy into it. My final take: as a film, ‘Conclave’ is probably one of the best, smartest movies you’re going to see in the last few years. This is a movie I recommend that people see with an open mind. Realize that it’s not Catholic, but it’s based in Catholicism. Take it for what it is.”
To hear this conversation about “Conclave,” tune into “Practicing Catholic,” which repeats at 1 p.m. March 22 and 2 p.m. March 23.
As part of the program, Jessica Kegley, a marriage and family therapist, shares her story of grief and healing after experiencing the loss of 10 pregnancies. Also, Corey Manning, the director of discipleship and evangelization, shares how combining the archdiocesan Office of Discipleship and Evangelization with the Office of Marriage, Family and Youth impacts the local Church.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, “Practicing Catholic” can be heard after it has aired at archspm.org/faith-and-discipleship/practicing-catholic or choose a streaming platform at Spotify for Podcasters.
