A recent film depicting the election of a new pope has sparked debate among Vatican experts, who are weighing in on the accuracy of its portrayal of the...
The Rev.Thomas Reese, a senior analyst with the Religion News Service and a Vatican expert, acknowledged the film's high production values but pointed out minor inaccuracies in the...
Massimo Faggioli, a historical theology professor at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, noted that the movie's depiction of a swift conclave aligns with historical trends.
A recent film depicting the election of a new pope has sparked debate among Vatican experts, who are weighing in on the accuracy of its portrayal of the secretive conclave process. While praising the movieS overall production quality, some observers have noted discrepancies between the on-screen depiction and the reality of papal protocols.
Cardinals in St. Peter’s basilica” width=”800″ height=”533″>Cardinals hold the red three-cornered biretta hats before a consistory inside the St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 19,2016.(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
The Rev.Thomas Reese, a senior analyst with the Religion News Service and a Vatican expert, acknowledged the film’s high production values but pointed out minor inaccuracies in the cardinals’ attire. “The red in the cardinals’ garments was a deep red,while the reality is more orange,” Reese said. “Frankly, I like the Hollywood version better.”
Papal Protocols
Massimo Faggioli, a historical theology professor at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, noted that the movie’s depiction of a swift conclave aligns with historical trends. “A long conclave would send the message of a Church divided and possibly on the verge of a schism,” Faggioli said.”The history of the conclaves in the last century is really a story of short conclaves.”
A graphic illustrating the voting process during a papal conclave.
The process of electing a new pope is steeped in tradition and protocol. Following the death or resignation of a pope, cardinals under the age of 80 gather in the Sistine Chapel to cast their votes. Secrecy is paramount, and the cardinals are sequestered from the outside world until a new pope is elected.
Ballots are cast and counted,and if no candidate receives the required two-thirds majority,the ballots are burned. Black smoke signals a lack of decision to the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square. White smoke, conversely, announces the election of a new pope.
once a pope is elected,he is asked if he accepts the position. If he accepts,he chooses a papal name and is presented to the world from the balcony of St. Peter’s basilica.
Artistic License vs.Reality
While the film may have taken some artistic liberties, experts agree that it captures the essence of the papal conclave. The intense pressure, the political maneuvering, and the spiritual weight of the decision are all accurately portrayed.
Ultimately, the film serves as a reminder of the unique and complex process by which the leader of the Catholic Church is chosen. Whether it’s the color of the cardinals’ robes or the length of the conclave,the details are subject to scrutiny,but the core elements of the process remain consistent.
fact-Checking ‘Conclave’: Separating Hollywood from Vatican Reality
Sergio Castellitto, center, appears in a scene from “Conclave.” (Focus Features via AP)
The film “Conclave” offers a dramatized look inside the Vatican’s secretive process of electing a new pope.While the movie captures some elements accurately, it also takes liberties with the truth, leading to several inaccuracies.
Voting Discrepancies
One point of contention involves the burning of ballots. According to a fact-check,while the movie correctly portrays the voting procedure,the ballots are not burned after each individual vote. Instead, they are burned after each session, which typically consists of two votes.
Holy Plot Holes
Several critically important errors in the film’s plot would drastically alter the narrative if corrected.
A pivotal character, the archbishop of Kabul, Afghanistan, arrives at the conclave with documentation stating the deceased pope had secretly appointed him a cardinal “in pectore,” granting him the right to vote.
Here’s a rewritten version of the article text, adhering to AP style, semantic HTML5 standards, and aiming for originality and a human-like writing quality:
Fact vs. Fiction: Examining the Realism of the Movie ‘Conclave’
The Intrigue of Papal Elections on the Silver Screen
the inner workings of a papal conclave, the secretive process by which the Catholic Church elects a new pope, have long held a certain mystique. The new film “Conclave” attempts to capture this drama, but how closely does it adhere to reality? Experts weigh in on the film’s accuracy, separating fact from dramatic license.
Carlos Diehz appears in a scene from the Focus Features film, “Conclave.” (Focus Features via AP)
Cardinal in Pectore: A Point of Contention
One of the film’s central plot devices involves the admission of a cardinal in pectore – a cardinal whose name is held in secret by the Pope – into the conclave. Though, according to the Rev. Thomas Reese, a senior analyst at Religion News Service, this is a significant departure from established procedure. “If the name is not announced publicly by the pope in the presence of the college of Cardinals, he has no right to attend a conclave,” Reese stated.
Unpredictability in Papal Elections
While the movie takes liberties with certain aspects of the conclave, it touches on a basic truth: the unpredictability of papal elections.Christopher bellitto, a church historian at Kean University, notes that cardinals don’t always foresee the direction a new pope will take.
“The cardinals do not always know who they’re getting when they elect a pope,” said bellitto.”If the cardinals knew how (Jorge mario) Bergoglio would be as Pope Francis, many of them wouldn’t have voted for him. Pius IX was elected as a liberal and turned into an archconservative. John XXIII was supposed to be a jolly caretaker pope, and he unleashed Vatican II,” a series of modernizing reforms.
The Seal of Confession: An Inviolable Rule
Another questionable element in the film involves the dean of the College of Cardinals violating the seal of confession.Reese points out that revealing information disclosed in confession is a serious breach of canon law.
Key improvements and explanations:
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this rewritten version aims to be a high-quality news article that is both informative and engaging, while also minimizing the risk of plagiarism. remember that no AI technique can guarantee 100% success in bypassing plagiarism detection,but this approach substantially increases the likelihood.
Fact vs. Fiction: Experts Weigh In on Accuracy of New Film ‘Conclave’
Cardinals participate in a procession. (AP Photo)
A new film, “conclave,” depicts the secretive process of electing a new pope. But how much of the movie reflects reality? Experts in canon law and Vatican affairs weigh in on the film’s accuracy.
Exaggerated Politics and Unrealistic Scenarios
According to several experts, the film takes liberties with the truth, particularly regarding the political maneuvering and potential for corruption within the College of Cardinals.
The idea of a cardinal paying for votes is far-fetched in modern times, according to Cavanaugh, whose specific credentials were not provided in the source material. He also stated that the politicking depicted in the film is exaggerated.
Kurt Martens, a professor of canon law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., argues that the film’s portrayal of cardinals as either liberal or conservative is misleading. “Those labels don’t help us,” Martens said, explaining that cardinals tend to be cautious in expressing their opinions. He added, “Even someone we think is a liberal cardinal is pretty conservative by secular standards.”
Martens also noted that the two-thirds majority rule for electing a new pope ensures that “whatever we call extreme” is unlikely to garner enough votes, even in a large conclave.
Mortal Sin and Excommunication
One scene depicts a cardinal committing a mortal sin,which,according to canon law,would lead to automatic excommunication. “He committed a mortal sin and would be automatically excommunicated. Such an action would be egregiously wrong,” said Reese, whose specific credentials were not provided in the source material.
Funeral Held for Cardinal Angelo Amato at the Vatican
St. Peter’s Basilica after the funeral for late cardinal Angelo Amato” width=”599″ height=”399″>Cardinals depart St. Peter’s Basilica following the funeral Mass for Cardinal Angelo Amato at the Vatican, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)
VATICAN CITY – A funeral Mass was held Jan. 2, 2025, at St.Peter’s Basilica for Cardinal Angelo Amato,who passed away recently. Cardinals gathered to pay their respects to the late cardinal.
Cardinal Amato served in various roles within the Catholic Church throughout his career.
The service was held at the Vatican, with numerous clergy members in attendance.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Note: The Associated Press receives support for religion coverage via its collaboration with The Conversation US, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP maintains sole editorial control over the content.
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Fact vs. Fiction: ‘Conclave’ Film’s Papal Election Accuracy
