Based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Robert Harris – when the Pope passes on, the college of Cardinals from all over the world convene in Rome to elect the new Pontiff, as shocking revelations and disturbances from the candidates come to light. 

One wouldn’t think that a film about the election of a new Pope, even with star powers like Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini in the films roster, would be anywhere near as good as Conclave turns out to be. But the film is, truly, a marvel, a wonder, perhaps even an actual miracle of drama to behold. And so, let’s grab our rather dusty zuchetto (the skullcap worn by Cardinals) and dive into this! 

So, the Pope (Bruno Novelli) has left this earthly plane without naming a successor, and like any good leader of millions upon millions of the faithful, he kept many secrets. The Dean of the college of Cardinals, Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), is forced to hastily shove aside his genuine sorrow at the Pope’s passing and gird his vestments to prepare to deal with the influx of Cardinals coming to Rome for the election of a new Pope. Immersed in ancient traditions that date back centuries for how to deal with a deceased Pope and the ensuing election of the next, Lawrence nevertheless finds himself bemused at also being surrounded by modern security measures, as they prepare to lock down the whole place and all the people in it until the election is satisfied. 

Most of the Cardinals find themselves chagrined at the arrival of a fellow Cardinal they’ve never heard of before, a man who dared to bring the faith to dangerous places like Cabul, Archbishop Benitez (Carlos Diehz). And while Lawrence is unnerved too, he has far more on his plate to deal with. After an initial ballot to determine the front-runners for papal election, Lawrence begins researching into the backgrounds of the candidates with the most number of votes. Including, somehow, the unheard-of-before Benitez. 

First up is Tremblay (John Lithgow), growing more desperate to hide the fact that, just days before the Pope’s demise, he was sacked for “gross misconduct”. And while Lawrence is keen to find out why that came about, information on the other Cardinals is coming at him from all directions and so Tremblay has to be tabled for now. 

Next up is Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), and this is a Cardinal of the old-fashioned hellfire and brimstone against the unbelievers variety. Tedesco is a man who, when confronted with violent protests going on just outside the college of Cardinals, shouts that, “We need a Pope who fights these animals!” Referring to other religions, especially the apparently hated by Tedesco faith of Islam, one can almost see Tedesco itching to speak the forbidden words, jihad or holy war. And we’ve had plenty of that in history already thank you. 

Lawrence’s good friend Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci) is a man beleaguered by the Pontiff election too, almost as much as Lawrence himself. Yet Bellini is a good man, a kind and understanding and willing-to-listen type of Cardinal, who also finds himself struggling with ancient traditions versus the need for modernity of faith here in 2024. Bellini finds himself reluctantly recruited to help Lawrence maintain his sanity, and secrecy as these horrific skeletons of other Cardinals come to light, even while being in the running for Pope himself. If for no other reason than to make sure these other candidates don’t get it. 

Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) is a Cardinal absolutely desperate to win the election, as it would be an incredible coup to be the first Black man ever to be elected to what is arguably the highest office of faith in the known world. And while the man (gender bias for Pontiff is something they fixed back in the time of Pope Joan) elected for Pope is still a man with a man’s shortcomings, the man who is Pope really needs to have either as few skeletons in his past as possible, or find a better way to keep them secreted and hidden forever. So when a serving Nun drops a tray in shock at seeing Adeyemi and through his research Lawrence finds out exactly why that happened and the past events that led to it, his past sadly takes Adeyemi out of the running for Pope too. Adeyemi’s remorse at such news seems genuine, as he tearfully asks Lawrence to pray with him, but the Deans word on this matter is effectively law and so his “ruling” stands. And really, from the way Bellini described Adeyemi as a sidebar, we don’t really want Adeyemi to win anyway. 

Lawrence has realized a clear advantage he has after recruiting the disapproving Nun Sister Agnes (Isabella Rosellinni) for help in his searches into the many Cardinals pasts, and it’s pretty clear Sister Agnes enjoys getting all these men in their funny ancient cassocks and faith beanies to shut the heck up when there’s things they all really need to hear, and know. Like, the revelation that Tremblay’s gross misconduct involved simony, a giant no-no as far as the college of Cardinals, and perhaps especially the office of the Pope, is concerned. So Tremblay is now totally out of the running too. 

But that leaves whom? Bellini may be a good man and good Cardinal, but he’s too progressive in his thinking and ways to want to fight for an office that, while it may be full of power in theory, also comes with arguably the heaviest responsibility on the planet. To be the Voice of God elected on this earthly plane to lead millions upon millions of faithful Catholics on the right path would be daunting to me, too. Tedesco is somehow still in the running, but as he loudly demonstrates during one of the latter-stage ballot discussions turned arguments, he would be a Pope who wants to go back to the old days of smiting infidels (meaning effectively anyone not Catholic) and we clearly cannot have that happen. Lawrence is made to realize that, despite his reluctance, he himself may have to take the office of the Pontiff, if, again, for no other reason than to make sure none of these other men got it. And most of these Cardinals in their arguments seem to have completely forgotten the newcomer Benitez, until he makes a speech towards the end that shames every last zuchetto-wearing man in the room. 

The film is a bit of a slow burn in the beginning, yes, but things pick up rapidly as the former Pope’s body cools and the men scurrying frantically to replace him speed up their lies, tactics, and calculating moves, even against each-other. Powerhouse performances are drawn from every single last actor, most especially Ralph Fiennes as Lawrence and Isabella Rosellinni as Sister Agnes. There is a giant reveal at the end and the entire theater audience, myself included, gasped as one when it came out – that’s how you know, you’ve made an excellent film. Cast your vote at the end for who is truly deserving to be the new Pope, see Conclave in theaters now!