The death of Pope Francis, at 88 years old, has activated the traditional process of selecting a new pontiff, a procedure that has remained virtually unchanged for centuries at the heart of the Vatican.
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This secret process, known as the papal conclave, was recently portrayed in the movie “Conclave,” a film that gained notoriety after receiving eight nominations at the last Academy Awards ceremony and winning the award for best adapted screenplay.
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The word “conclave” comes from a Latin word meaning “room that can be locked up” (from the Latin com-, “together,” and clavis, “key”).
Directed by Edward Berger, the film stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. The movie is based on the 2016 novel of the same name, written by Robert Harris, and offers a dramatized view of the process followed by the world’s cardinals as they gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church.
Does the movie reflect the true process of a Vatican conclave?
Although “Conclave” presents an ending outside historical canon, several elements faithfully reflect the secret rituals and internal political dynamics that characterize this millennial event. With the death of Francis, the movie has regained global interest, as many turn their eyes to the Vatican in anticipation of a new pope.
Peter Straughan, the film’s screenwriter, commented in an interview with USA Today before the premiere that the team had special access to spaces in the Vatican to conduct in-depth research: “We were given a private tour of the Vatican and they were quite welcoming. It’s a fascinating and theatrical world, so one wants to capture those details well. It’s very sumptuous.”.
According to Straughan, the Vatican officials did not show resistance to the film’s narrative, despite its surprising final twist.
After the death of a pope, the conclave does not begin immediately. According to the protocol, the meeting of the cardinals starts between 15 and 20 days later, allowing all eligible cardinals—those under 80 years old—to arrive in Rome.
During the process, the cardinals stay at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the same place where Pope Francis lived, where they remain incommunicado: without phones, televisions, computers, or newspapers. This isolation is intended to ensure an environment free from external influences. There they sleep and eat.
As seen in the movie, the conclave begins with the phrase “extra omnes” (“everyone out”).
The voting takes place in the Sistine Chapel with a maximum of four rounds in the same day, and for a candidate to be elected, they must obtain a two-thirds majority. After each vote, the ballots are burned in a special stove inside the Sistine Chapel. If the smoke that emerges from the chimney is black (fumata nera), it indicates that a consensus has not been reached. If it is white (fumata bianca), a new pope has been elected.
In case there is no decision after three days, a one-day pause for reflection can be taken before resuming the process. The elections of Benedict XVI and Francis took 24 hours.
Once elected, the new pope is asked if he accepts the position and what name he wishes to adopt. Although they are not obligated to change their baptismal name, recent popes have chosen a new name as a sign of renewal or continuity.
In the movie, the cardinals carry out the voting in a very ritualized way, and that aspect is authentic. “Each time a cardinal votes, he must approach the container where he will deposit his written vote and recite an oath in Latin,” Straughan detailed. The film shows how the ballots are folded and sewn before being burned, a practice that also happens in reality.
Regarding female participation, the film presents the character of Sister Agnes, played by Rossellini, as the only woman within the conclave. However, in reality, women do not participate in this process.
Where was the movie “Conclave” filmed?
While the production team was well received by the Vatican, they were not allowed to film inside its facilities.
The scenes were filmed in studios and various locations in Rome and its surroundings, taking advantage of the historical architecture to faithfully recreate the Vatican atmosphere.
Where to watch the movie “Conclave”?
Currently the movie is not available for free on streaming platforms, but it can be watched with an additional payment, in addition to the subscription, on Amazon’s Prime Video and Apple+.