How accurate is the film and book Conclave?
As cardinals from across the world descend upon Rome to elect a new Pope, many people’s knowledge of the process is derived primarily from the popular film.
On The Hard Shoulder, theologian Gina Menzies said the film starring Ralph Fiennes “gets an awful lot right”.
“In general, I’d say it’s more accurate than not,” she said.
“I believe that they did enormous research in the run up to putting the movie together.
“It does outline what happens following the funeral of the Pope and the beginning of the conclave.
“It emphasises how clearly the camerlengo breaks the Pope’s ring, seals the apartment and calls the Cardinals of the world to Rome - and they’re obliged to go.
“If they’re over 80, they can’t vote but they can go and they can take part in the conclave.”
Candles left outside the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome. Picture by: AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy.Ms Menzies also praised the film for its depiction of both “humanity and the Holy Spirit - that unusual combination”.
“It shows the human face of a number of cardinals who would clearly like to be Pope,” she said.
“They say - which is very common - ‘I don’t want to be [Pope].’
“He is also, perhaps, a little bit of a caricature in that he does portray different wings of the church.
“But what he does very well is he explains very well how it is all done in secret.”
Pope Francis blesses crowds in The Vatican, 4-9-16. Image: Linda Schaefer / AlamyHowever, Ms Menzies caveated that the film contains “slight exaggeration”.
“He does sort of caricature perhaps some of the wings of the church,” she said.
“There’s very clearly a Cardinal Bellini who is played by Stanley Tucci… and a cardinal who would like to be Pope and that becomes obvious.
“Then you have a guy called Tedesco, who is very conservative and very reactionary and wants to restore the church to a previous era.”
A conclave to elect the next pontiff will begin between May 6th and 11th.
Main image: Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence. Picture by: BFA / Focus Features
