Papal Conclave – As seen on "Conclave"

In the preceding entry, I covered the conclave process as depicted in The Two Popes and The New Pope. This entry continues with Conclave, where the story is set almost entirely within the timeline of a papal conclave. There is so much to describe from one film that a separate entry is required. There are plenty of spoilers here. Do not read any further if you do not want to know. 

Feature film directed by Edward Berger, FilmNation Entertainment, Indian Paintbrush, House Productions, 2024. Amazon Prime Video.

 

The film begins immediately with the pope's death and concludes with the successor choosing his papal name. Cardinal Lawrence enters the pope's bedroom with three cardinals already present. Led by Cardinal Adeyemi, they pray as a group in Latin. At this point, the pope is already confirmed dead. Archbishop Woźniak removes the pope's papal ring. Cardinal Tremblay removes the seal off the ring, places it in a small case and declares that "the throne of the Holy See is vacant". Adeyemi tells Lawrence – addressing him as "dean" – is responsible for preparing the conclave. A translucent handkerchief covers the pope's face. An order is given to seal his apartment. His body is placed in translucent body bag and carried out. The door to his apartment is shut, draped with a red ribbon and sealed with red wax. 

 

Three weeks later, inside the Sistine Chapel on the eve of the conclave, preparations shown include boarding up the windows, setting up furniture and material, and rolling out the red carpet. Archbishop Mandorff informs Lawrence that security wants to test the electronic jammers one last time for any audiovisual equipment, claiming that "eavesdroppers can use lasers to read the vibration of the glass". Lawrence mentions that the sequester starts at 6pm. Elsewhere, nuns arrive by bus to help with the preparations, TVs, monitors and landline phones are removed from the suites that the cardinal electors will be staying in, and motorized exterior window blinds are being tested. 

As the electors arrived, some have black umbrellas over their heads, some are mingling outside, some are looking at their phones, and some are smoking. After they enter the building, the next shot shows cigarette butts on the floor. (I hope this isn't true in real life –priests littering in the Vatican.) The electors go through a security check. It is implied that they surrender their electronic devices here. In the next few shots, nuns are shown putting said devices in ziplock bags, placing the bags in plastic containers, and preparing the suites (beds, pillows, bathrooms, toiletries in ziplock bags, etc.). Lawrence is informed that 103 electors (so far) have arrived. According to Bellini, the newspapers have decided that he should be the pope.

 

 

Before the sequester starts, all the window blinds are lowered. Nuns are preparing the meals and setting the dinner tables. At 18m:56s, Monsignor O'Malley informs Lawrence that a cardinal in pectore – Benitez – has arrived. Lawrence admits him, and invites him to bless the first meal of the sequester. After dinner, Bellini's supporters gather to discuss the likely outcome of the first ballot, which takes place the next morning, and strategize on how to help him get two-thirds of the ballot on the next round onwards. Like a politician, Bellini states his position on key issues, allows canvassing on his behalf, and casts himself as an opposite of Tedesco. 

Trembley's suite – presumably in Casa Santa Marta – is shown. With marble walls, marble floors and seemingly fine decor – red front door with matching red window curtains, two standing lamps, two table lamps, a coffee maker and two full-size couches – it looks luxurious compared to its humbler real-life counterpart. Even the corridor is wall-to-wall marble, and so is Lawrence' suite's bathroom. The next scene is the Lawrence's homily. After that, the electors proceed slowly to the buses that transport them to the Sistine Chapel. Pontifical Swiss Guard are shown in tactical riot gear. There is no procession scene. Instead, the film cuts to the electors already seated in the Chapel at 40m:23s. Two electors are shown making the oath of secrecy and then the order given to "everyone out". Bells ring five times as everyone else leave. The Chapel main doors are closed and locked at 41m:58s. 

Lawrence addresses the electors with instructions on how to vote. He appears to be the first to approach the scrutineers' table, swears the Latin oath, places his ballot on a small plate resting on a large urn, raises and tilts the plate to drop the ballot into the urn. Other electors follow. The first scrutineer takes a ballot from the urn, the second scrutineer reads the ballot aloud, and the third scrutineer pierces the ballot with a needle to tie it to the red thread. Many electors write down on a pad the name of every ballot read aloud. An unknown cardinal places a ball – presumably bearing a voter's name – at the final row on a tray of balls, signifying that the ballot round is about to end. The tally of the first ballot is as follows: 

[Adeyemi 21, Tedesco 18, Bellini 17, Tremblay 16, Lawrence 5, 

31 other candidates (including Benitez) with 1 vote]

 

As Lawrence announces the end of the first ballot round (at 45m:51s), the ballots are placed in a stove, and a black canister with an angled tip is lighted to burn the ballots. The next ballot round takes place the next morning. A cardinal knocks on the Chapel main doors and requests it be unlocked and opened. As the doors open, the stove is started, burning the votes. Black smoke appears from the Chapel chimney. Lawrence enters a bus where Cardinal Sabbadin expresses his disappointment with the result. The buses are escorted by a detail of Pontifical Swiss Guard (in tactical riot gear) consisting of two motorcycles and a car in front. Lawrence meets Benitez by the turtle pond and reminds him of the evening curfew, then goes to his suite where Bellini is waiting. Bellini not only expresses his bitterness with the result, but also accuses Lawrence of having ambition to be pope. Bellini believes he is the only candidate that can prevent Tedesco from winning, and insists that Lawrence picks a side. There is a table lamp besides Lawrence's bed, making a total of five per suite.

On the second day, the second ballot round begins at 55m:00s. Electors write the candidates' names on their ballots – and folding them – with numerous voices taking the Latin oath. As the vote tally is announced, shots in montage form show: 

• electors cast votes into the urn

• counted ballots tied by red threads

• ballots placed in stove

• brand & model of canister is Smoke Colore Nero (similar to this)

[Adeyemi 34, Tedesco 25, Bellini 18, Tremblay 16, Lawrence 9, Benitez 2]

The second ballot round ends at 55m:54s. After the ballots are burned, their ashes are collected in a bucket. The third ballot round begins at 56m:05s. Ballots are dropped into the urn, and later pierced and tied with the needle and red thread. While the vote tally is being announced, a faint rumble is heard, its vibrations strong enough to shake the liquid in a drinking glass. The ballot round ends at 57m:02s with the following tally (and black smoke): [Adeyemi 52, Tedesco 30, Tremblay 10, Bellini 9, Lawrence 5, Benitez 4]

Lawrence finds out that the rumble is caused by an explosion of an unknown origin. Though there are injuries but no fatalities, he instructs Monsignor O'Malley to not mention this to the electors lest their judgement be influenced without. This proves to be ironic later on through Lawrence's own actions. An incident during lunch involving Adeyemi and a recently transferred nun impacts his candidacy. As Lawrence prays with Adeyemi, it intercuts with another ballot round starting at 1h:05m:26s and includes a close-up of a dejected Adeyemi making the Latin oath. As the other electors cast their votes and voices of the Latin oath are heard, Lawrence is shown writing Bellini's name on his ballot. As the vote tally is read aloud, the candidates – except for Benitez – are shown seated alone at their respective tables, resting on Adeyemi. A scrutineer announces the end of the fifth ballot round – the fourth round is neither shown nor mentioned – with "no candidate having achieved the necessary majority", and that the next ballot round takes place the next morning. The announcement ends at 1h:07m:19s. 

[Tremblay 40, Tedesco 34, Bellini 13, Lawrence 11, Adeyemi 9, Benitez 6]

Lawrence declines to know additional information regarding the explosion to avoid being influenced himself. Later that night, he meets with Sabbadin and Bellini to discuss supporting the leading candidate Trembley. Lawrence bemuses the idea of "considering the least worst option". An agreement is made between the three to inform their supporters to back Trembley. Lawrence tries but fails to persuade Benitez to vote for Trembley over the former. He goes to see Sister Agnes who reveals to him – indirectly – information regarding Adeyemi's earlier altercation with a sister. Lawrence then confronts Trembley, alleging that he was behind a conspiracy to smear Adeyemi. Trembley in turn accuses Lawrence of doing the same to him. Undeterred, Lawrence breaks the seal of the deceased pope's apartment and discovers pertinent evidence. He confides with Bellini who insists he returns them. When Bellini no longer seeks to be pope and appears resigned to the reality of Trembley being one, Lawrence insinuates the Bellini of being "bought" by Trembley. Bellini's facial and body language confirms it. 

As the third day of the conclave begins, Lawrence succeeds in influencing the electors' judgments. Copies of the evidence are made for each elector to review. (BTW, why is Tedesco sitting next to Adeyemi and the African cardinals at the same table?) Like Adeyemi, Trembley's candidacy is impacted. The next ballot round starts at 1h:32m:11s. Intercuts make it clear that it's between Lawrence and Tedesco. Lawrence enters his own name on the ballot, folds it, approaches the scrutineers' table, and takes the Latin oath. As he drops the ballot into the urn, an explosion damages the Sistine Chapel, causing debris and rubble to fall inside the Chapel and injure Lawrence. Information revealed that a car bomb exploded, followed by a suicide bomber detonating himself. The ballot round ends at 1h:34m:26s without announcing the tally.

Death toll is 52 with hundreds injured. Tedesco delivers a fiery speech exhorting a religious war, and is admonished by Benitez. The electors go up the stairs and mingle outside. They then proceed slowly to the Chapel with umbrellas over their heads, all except Trembley.

The final ballot round begins at 1h:40m:20s with a homily by Lawrence. Medium to close-up shots suggest that the final four candidates are Tedesco, Bellini, Benitez and Lawrence. As voting begins, a breeze is blowing on Lawrence's literature. He, along with others, look up to see light coming in from two of the Chapel's windows. In unison, the electors write their candidate' names on their ballots. The camera pans from Lawrence to the cardinals intercut first with their hands folding their ballots, then to each scrutineer handing a ballot one to the other. The names of the candidates are announced very faintly with multiple intercuts of:

• elector casting vote at scrutineers' table

• red thread pulled from roll

• ballot pierced shown out of focus

• back head shots of electors

• front shots of electors writing down name of candidate announced

• electors start applauding as Tedesco and Trembley looks crestfallen

• Bellini does not appear disappointed but Adeyemi does   

Flanked by the College of Cardinals, Lawrence (as dean) asks the winner twice if he accepts the results. The winner – Benitez – accepts and chooses his papal name: Innocent. Lawrence smiles while the electors resume applauding. A final wide shot shows Tedesco and Adeyemi remain seated during the applause. The ballot round – and the papal conclave – ends at 1h:44m:41s without announcing a tally or showing the white smoke from the Chapel chimney.

At 1h:51m:23s, the ballots are placed in the stove. A lighted canister starts the fire, and the stove is turned on. The distant sound of a cheering crowd and a medium close up of Lawrence are only confirmations that the white smoke is coming out of the Sistine Chapel chimney. It is not shown. With the conclave ended, the window blinds are automatically opened, allowing Lawrence to open the windows and look out.

Unlike The Two Popes and The New Pope, all the ballot rounds shown in Conclave are clearly defined: six in total. This makes it easier to note, for example, that the screen time of the third round is longer than the second by 3 seconds. The round with the next shortest screen time – fifth – is longer than the combined of the second and third rounds. The last three ballot rounds are shown to be impacted by undue influences. The brief statistics of each ballot around are as follows: 

Despite some deviations from that of a real-life papal conclave, cardinals new to the process watched Conclave as a guide of what to expect. Apparently so did Cardinal Robert Prevost, the now Pope Leo XIV. The film is deserving of its praises. Fine performances, critical acclaims and splendid production quality certainly didn't hurt it. I saw the entire film three times simply because it is great cinema.