Conclave may have won an Oscar, but in the wake of Pope Francis‘ passing, the film may not have just won over the Academy — it’s earned the attention of the Catholic church.
Politico reports that some of the clerics that will be involved in the real-life conclave taking place today have watched the film, with one cleric telling the outlet, “Some have watched it in the cinema.”
According to the cleric, the 2024 film, which was shot on location in Rome and stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, and Isabella Rossellini, was seen as “remarkably accurate” by the cardinals. The film, which made it onto former President Barack Obama‘s Top 10 Movies of 2024 list, centers on Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes) as he is responsible for leading the selection of the new pope.
Following his win for Best Adapted Screenplay at this year’s Oscars, Conclave writer Peter Straughan was asked if it was “surreal” to be experiencing this win in the midst of burgeoning health updated about Pope Francis.
“To be honest, I sort of agree with Robert Harris on this, that it feels kind of in bad taste to bring in the Pope’s health into this as we celebrate the atmosphere,” Straughan replied, referencing the author who wrote the 2016 novel that inspired the film.
The conclave officially began Wednesday, with NBC News reporting at 11:44 a.m. ET (5:44 p.m. in Vatican City) that the doors to the Sistine Chapel had been sealed, and that only those involved in the selection process were allowed to remain inside, with no contact with those
According to USA Today, the pope is selected once a candidate earns a two-thirds majority vote among the 133 clerics, who hail from all over the world. Per ABC News, the color of the smoke rising from the chimney will signify the status of the vote, with black smoke meaning the vote is inconclusive, and white smoke meaning that the new pope has been selected.
Conclave is currently streaming free for Prime Video subscribers, but is also available for purchase or rental from your favorite streamer.
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