40/21
After a Pope dies, his ring (called the Fisherman’s Ring) is indeed removed and destroyed
Story
When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events, the election of a new pope, he finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundations of the Catholic Church. Many of the actions that Cardinal Lawrence and the other cardinals take during the conclave in the film are true and accurate to the Catholic faith and centuries of tradition. The Vatican does indeed make an official announcement that the throne of the Holy See (the governing body of the Catholic Church) is vacant.
It is stated that Ayendi will be the first African Pope
The papal residence is indeed closed with a scarlet ribbon and sealed with a wax papal seal. The College of Cardinals is indeed confined to their apartments (called the Domus Sanctae Marthae or House of Saint Martha in real life) to eat and sleep between votes. And finally, the windows and doors of the Sistine Chapel, where the actual election and voting take place, are indeed darkened, closed, and locked to maintain the secrecy of the conclave.
Featured on The 7PM Project: Episode 10 December 2024 (2024)
The Roman Catholic Church has had three African Popes: Victor I (189-199 AD), Miltiades (also known as Melchiades, 311-314 AD), and Gelasius I (492-496 AD). Sister Agnes: Although we sisters are supposed to be invisible, God has given us eyes and ears.. Allegri: MisererePerformed by Capella Musicale Pontificia Sistina, Massimo PalombellaCourtesy of Deutsche Grammophon GMBHLicensed to Universal Music Operations Ltd.
This is a political thriller
With a little tweaking, this kind of vaguely labyrinthine plot unfolds wherever there is a quest for power and control. The lead actors – Fiennes, Tucci, Lithgow, Rossellini and Msamati – give strong performances, and the film is worth watching for them alone. The script is well-written, if clichéd in parts, but it provides tension, momentum and intrigue.
The settings play their part equally and, given the scale, add gravitas and authenticity, rather than just background
Having said all that, and without giving anything away, the ending felt added on and didn’t integrate properly with the rest of the film. While the message was well-intentioned, it somewhat undermined the build-up to the rest of the film – it felt simple and la mode – unnecessary. It’s a shame, because if this part of the film had been given as much attention as the others, it would have been a better film.
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