16/21
After the Pope’s death, his ring (called the Fisherman’s Ring) is taken and destroyed
Narrative
When Cardinal Lawrence is given the task of presiding over one of the world’s most secret and ancient events: the election of a new Pope, he finds himself in the middle of a conspiracy that could shake the foundations of the Catholic Church. Much of what Cardinal Lawrence and the rest of the cardinals do during the conclave process in the film is in keeping with Catholic belief and centuries-old tradition. The Vatican officially announces that the throne of the Holy See (the governing body of the Catholic Church) is vacant. The Papal Apartments are cordoned off with a purple ribbon and sealed with a papal wax stamp.
Cardinal Benitez delivers his decisive speech in Spanish
The College of Cardinals is sequestered in chambers (called the Domus Sanctae Marthae, or House of Saint Martha) to eat and sleep between votes. The windows and doors of the Sistine Chapel, where the actual election takes place and votes are cast, are darkened, shuttered and locked to preserve the secrecy of the conclave. All the cardinals are fluent in Latin and many converse in Italian. Spanish and Italian both derive from Latin, so the cardinals might have a basic knowledge of Spanish.
About 80 of them
Sister Agnes: Although we sisters are meant to be invisible, God has nevertheless given us eyes and ears. Quoted in The Saad Truth: My review of Conclave (film) – Wokeism Destroys Everything (2024). Allegri: MisererePerformed by Capella Musicale Pontificia Sistina, Massimo PalombellaCourtesy of Deutsche Grammophon GMBHUnder license from Universal Music Operations Ltd. Disclaimer – I am Catholic and yes, as many say and note, the ending is a real 24 karat surprise, but I’m not giving anything away here, there are many stories to be told in the story that remain locked in the labyrinth that is the Vatican.
The production is beautiful
Fiennes and Tucchi are of course masters at the top of their craft and it shows. The tension and the games don’t stop. Living Latin in a conversation? OMG!
I would have loved some varied conversations on the sidelines
What I will say though is that there are about 80 cardinals from all over our planet, only a handful are the focus and the others are, shall we say, background. The nuns/sisters are of course one of them and I’ll gladly accept that. But my goodness, this makes me want to order the book.