The death of a pope and the subsequent election of a new one is an event that the Catholic world follows with great interest. As a period of mourning for the deceased pope is observed, the suspense builds and a worldwide audience learns the names and nationalities of the main contenders. This movie shows the protocols that follow the death of a pope and takes the viewer inside the walls of the Vatican as we see the various contenders. Ralph Fiennes is superb as Cardinal Lawrence, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the church prelate who organizes and manages the conclave. Stanley Tucci as Cardinal Bellini is the liberal favourite while Sergio Castellito is Cardinal Tedesco, the conservative alternative. Other contenders rise and fall. There is tension and infighting that highlights the rivalry because the stakes are so high. The outside world never knows what form the discussions take or the possible conflicts because the process is highly secretive. This movie lends drama to what could happen during the course of the conclave. Some conclaves are over in a short period of time; others take longer to play out. In this movie, the voting reaches a stalemate followed by a surprise and then another. We see how the Vatican and the world are not at odds but are interwoven. As an observer of these conclaves, I was drawn to the character of Cardinal Lawrence and how he had to navigate the challenges and limitations of his role. A fine movie and a great performance by Ralph Fiennes.
