Is ‘Conclave' Accurate? How The Film Compares To The Real Election After Pope Francis' Death

Forbes

21-04-2025

Ralph Fiennes in "Conclave"
Courtesy of Focus Features
Following the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church now enters one of the most secretive and sacred processes in the world: selecting the next pope. This centuries-old ritual concludes with white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney—a sign that a new leader of the Church has been chosen.
The Vatican announced Francis' death on Monday, April 21, at the age of 88. According to Politico, the pontiff's funeral will likely take place in St. Peter's Square within four to six days of his passing. The ceremony will be led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, 91-year-old Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.
While the Church prepares to honor Francis with a funeral and burial, officials are already working behind the scenes to initiate the Conclave—the Latin-derived term meaning 'with key'—a highly confidential gathering of eligible cardinals to elect the next pope. Only cardinals under the age of 80 may participate, and they are secluded from the outside world until a two-thirds majority vote is reached.
The process recently gained attention again thanks to Conclave, the Oscar-winning 2024 thriller based on Robert Harris's bestselling novel. The film stars Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, who oversees the papal election process as secrets and tensions build among the Church's highest-ranking officials.
While writing the book, Harris consulted with the late English cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor (who participated in both the 2005 and 2013 conclaves), while screenwriter Peter Straughan and the filmmakers were given a private viewing of the Vatican.
"We were given a private tour of the Vatican, and they were quite welcoming, actually, quite helpful," Conclave screenwriter Peter Straughan told USA Today. 'So it was a big research project, really. It's a fascinating and theatrical world, so you want to get those details right. It's a very sumptuous thing.'
Now that Pope Francis has passed, many are wondering just how accurately Conclave mirrors reality. Here's everything to know.
Conclave actually gets a lot right about the secretive selection process, from the cardinals' attire and sleeping quarters to the complex political dynamics behind closed doors.
Rev. Thomas Reese, a columnist for Religion News Service with a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, told NPR the film was faithful to reality. "The voting procedure was done very well," Reese said, noting that the urns shown were perfect replicas of those used to burn the ballots.
The film captures many real-life details, such as cardinals arriving with their luggage and smoking cigarettes before the voting begins. It accurately portrays the Domus Sanctae Marthae—the Vatican guesthouse where cardinals stay during the conclave—and their shared meals in a cafeteria staffed by nuns.
During the conclave, the cardinals are completely cut off from the outside world. "There isn't supposed to be any information coming in from the outside world, or going out, that could sway the election in any way," Straughan added.
One of the most notable moments recreated in the film is the ritual at the end of each voting session: ballots are sewn together with a needle and thread, then burned with a special chemical mixture that releases black smoke if no decision is made—or white smoke when a new pope has been chosen.
Viewers also see the sealing of the deceased pope's room and the destruction of his ring, the oaths taken by the cardinals before voting, and the sweeping of the Sistine Chapel for listening devices, all of which are accurate depictions, per CNN.
The film also delves into the political dynamics of the process, showing senior Church officials wrestling with both their spiritual duty and ambitions of power. Reese affirmed that this kind of behind-the-scenes lobbying does happen in the actual Conclave.
"The Church, we often say, is a divine institution governed by men, and they are not all angels and saints," Reese said. 'Even when you have people of goodwill who are working for the best of the church, for the welfare of the church, there will be disagreements … that's human and that's normal.'
Now, the actual Conclave will likely have to decide whether to elect a pope who continues Pope Francis' more open and progressive approach, or to follow opposing forces within the Church pushing for a more conservative direction.
While the film gets many elements right, it also takes a few creative liberties. For example, the table arrangements in the Sistine Chapel and how the cardinals address one another aren't entirely accurate, according to CNN.
In the actual conclave, voting can occur up to four times a day, especially in the early rounds, to determine which candidates are likely to earn a majority vote. Though Conclave depicts the process as loud and disorderly, real-life voting is far more solemn and filled with ritual. "Each time each cardinal votes, he must walk up to the bowl where his written vote will be placed and recite an oath (in Latin)," Straughan said.
Another major inaccuracy involves the character Cardinal Vincent Benitez, played by Carlos Diehz. In the film, he's described as a Cardinal in pectore, a secret appointment made by the pope. However, Reese clarified that such cardinals are not allowed to vote in a conclave unless their appointment was publicly announced before the pope's death, which wasn't the case in the film.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the movie and real life is that Conclave wasn't shot at the Vatican at all. 'You can't film at the Vatican, ever,' Straughan revealed. "We had to come up with alternatives."
Some of the locations were shot in Rome, while the interior of the Sistine Chapel was built on a soundstage and Michelangelo's iconic ceiling was re-created using CGI.
You can watch Conclave at home by streaming the film exclusively on Peacock. The religious thriller is also available to rent or buy on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Fandango At Home.
Watch the official trailer for Conclave below.