Joshua Bennett
The 2024 film Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes, has sparked controversy among Catholic audiences and critics. The movie, inspired by a novel of the same name, centres on the election of a new pope and the internal conflicts within the Church. While some viewers have praised the cinematography and performances, others have criticised the movie for its portrayal of the Catholic Church, its alleged anti-Catholic bias, and misrepresentation of Catholic doctrine and traditions. The film has also been accused of perpetuating negative stereotypes about the clergy and the Church's hierarchy, with some viewers finding it offensive and blasphemous.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plot | Predictable |
| Characters | Cardboard |
| Story Elements | Clichés, Stereotypes, Silly plot twists |
| Cast | Respectable, All-star, Top-flight |
| Cinematography | Beautiful |
| Tone | Serious, Lugubrious |
| Rating | L (Limited adult audience), PG (Parental guidance suggested) |
| Depiction of the Church | Misrepresentation, Negative, Troubling, Unfair, Harmful, Demonizing |
| Depiction of the Clergy | Negative, Troubling |
| Depiction of Canon Law | Incorrect |
| Depiction of Pope | Misrepresentation |
| Agenda | Anti-Catholic, Ideological, Secular |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic viewers may find the ending uncomfortable
The 2024 film Conclave, inspired by the 2016 novel of the same name, has sparked controversy and stirred considerable debate among Catholics. The film centres on Ralph Fiennes' Cardinal Lawrence, who, as dean of the college of cardinals, must organise the conclave, or gathering, to appoint a new pope following the sudden death of the previous one. The film has been praised for its serious tone, top-flight cast, and visually beautiful cinematography.
However, Catholic viewers may find the ending uncomfortable due to several reasons. Firstly, the film has been criticised for misrepresenting the papal election process, the papal conclave, and the Church's teaching on the papacy. By dramatising internal conflicts and portraying the Church as politically motivated, the film presents a narrative that undermines the sanctity and solemnity of the papal conclave. It introduces an intersex cardinal character with a uterus, considering a hysterectomy, who becomes Pope. This goes against Catholic doctrine, which teaches that the priesthood is reserved exclusively for men as it is rooted in Divine Revelation.
Secondly, the film has been accused of perpetuating negative stereotypes about Church leaders and the clergy. It focuses on scandals and power struggles, overshadowing the positive contributions and dedication of many clergy members. This negative portrayal can erode trust in the clergy and detract from the positive impact that priests and bishops have in their communities.
Additionally, the film contains murky moral values and plot developments that require mature discernment. There are also a couple of mild oaths in the film. As a result, the Motion Picture Association has given it a PG rating, suggesting that parental guidance may be necessary for younger viewers.
Finally, the film has been criticised for getting canon law wrong. For example, promotions such as Benitez's are traditionally "in pectore" or "within the chest", and they are null and void if not publicly announced during the lifetime of the pope who made them. The film also makes misleading statements, such as alluding to a former pope being part of the Hitler Youth, implicitly slandering Benedict XVI. These factors contribute to why Catholic viewers may find the ending uncomfortable.
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The film contains offensive content
The film "Conclave" has been deemed offensive by many Catholics. The movie, inspired by the 2016 novel of the same name, has stirred considerable debate among Catholics due to its portrayal of the Church and the papal election process. The film has been accused of misrepresenting the papal conclave, dramatizing internal conflicts, and depicting the Church as politically motivated, which undermines the sanctity and solemnity of the papal conclave.
One of the main concerns raised by Catholic viewers is the film's misrepresentation of canon law and the papal election process. The movie introduces an intersex cardinal character with a uterus, considering a hysterectomy, which goes against the Church's clear teaching that the priesthood is reserved exclusively for men. This has led to confusion among Catholics, with some questioning the possibility of a biological woman serving as Pope. The movie also gets canon law wrong regarding promotions, as traditionally, promotions "in pectore" are null and void if not publicly announced during the lifetime of the pope who made them.
Additionally, "Conclave" has been criticized for its negative portrayal of the clergy and the Church's hierarchy, perpetuating negative stereotypes about Church leaders and diminishing the positive contributions of many clergy who serve with integrity and dedication. The film focuses on scandals and power struggles, which some viewers feel contributes to a negative perception of the Church and its leaders. The film has also been accused of implicitly slandering former Pope Benedict XVI by alluding to a past pontiff who fought for Hitler.
The film has been rated as having limited adult audience content by the OSV News classification, with some material that may not be suitable for children. It contains murky moral values, plot developments that require mature discernment, and a few mild oaths. While the film has a serious tone and a top-flight cast, including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and Sergio Castellitto, it has also been criticized for its predictable plot, cardboard characters, and reliance on clichés and stereotypes.
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The movie misrepresents the Catholic Church
The movie "Conclave" has been criticised for misrepresenting the Catholic Church and perpetuating negative stereotypes about the Church and its leaders. The film, which centres on the papal election process following the death of a fictional pope, has been described as a power-struggle potboiler that focuses on scandals and internal conflicts within the Church. This portrayal has been deemed deeply troubling by some Catholics, who argue that it undermines the sanctity and solemnity of the papal conclave and presents a misleading narrative about the spirit that guides the election of a new Pope.
One of the main concerns raised by Catholic viewers is the film's depiction of the clergy and the Church's hierarchy. The movie introduces an intersex cardinal character with female reproductive organs and male characteristics, considering a hysterectomy. This goes against the Church's clear teaching that the priesthood is reserved exclusively for men, as it is rooted in Divine Revelation. The film's treatment of this topic has been criticised as exploitative and offensive, contributing to a narrative that seeks to undermine the credibility of the Church.
Additionally, "Conclave" has been accused of getting canon law wrong, with promotions or nominations "in pectore" being depicted as valid even if not publicly announced during the pope's lifetime, which is inaccurate. The film also makes allusions to a past pope fighting for Hitler and being part of the Hitler Youth, implicitly slandering Benedict XVI. These references have been seen as cavalier and misleading, serving the movie's ideological agenda rather than accurately portraying the Church's values and traditions.
The film's portrayal of the conclave's setting and atmosphere has also been criticised. The dark and shadowy sets, including a convent that resembles a "2-star hotel and a morgue," symbolise the movie's opinion that the Church's business takes place in the shadows. This artful technique, combined with misleading statements and plot twists, contributes to the perception of an ideological agenda that aims to shape how society views the Church, faith, and morality.
Overall, while "Conclave" features a top-flight cast and beautiful cinematography, its misrepresentation of the Catholic Church and its teachings has been a significant point of contention among Catholic viewers, who find it unfair and harmful to the faith and reputation of the Church and its clergy.
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The plot is predictable
The 2024 film Conclave, inspired by the 2016 novel of the same name, has sparked controversy and stirred considerable debate among Catholics. The movie centres on the papal conclave following the death of a fictional pope, with a hundred cardinals locked together in a convent, vying for the papacy. While the film boasts a top-flight cast, including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and Sergio Castellitto, it has been criticised for its predictable plot, cardboard characters, and reliance on clichés and stereotypes.
The plot of Conclave has been described as predictable and formulaic. With its setting resembling an Agatha Christie mystery, the audience is left guessing which of the cardinals will emerge as the next pope. The candidates include an ultra-conservative Italian cardinal who loves the Latin Mass and despises immigrants, a kind-hearted African with a difficult past, a consummate curial schemer, and a seemingly attractive and liberal cardinal. This setup leads to a series of plot twists and attention-grabbing developments, but some viewers may find the outcome foreseeable.
The film has also been accused of perpetuating negative stereotypes about the Catholic Church and its leaders. It focuses on scandals and power struggles, portraying the Church as politically motivated. This negative portrayal has been criticised for overshadowing the positive contributions of many clergy members who serve with integrity and dedication. Additionally, the movie has been criticised for misrepresenting the papal election process and undermining the sanctity and solemnity of the papal conclave.
Conclave has sparked strong reactions, with some Catholics considering it blasphemous and offensive to the Church. The film has been accused of distorting the truth and creating confusion, especially regarding the papacy and priesthood. It introduces an intersex character who becomes Pope, contradicting the Church's clear teaching that the priesthood is reserved exclusively for men. This has led to concerns about the impact of the film on societal perceptions of the Church and broader issues related to faith and morality.
While Conclave has its defenders who appreciate its entertainment value and the performances of its cast, the general consensus among critics is that it falls flat. The predictable plot and reliance on stereotypes have been cited as significant drawbacks, contributing to the overall negative reception of the film.
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The movie has an anti-Catholic bias
The movie "Conclave" has been criticized for its anti-Catholic bias and portrayal of the Catholic Church and its clergy. The film, inspired by the 2016 novel of the same name, centres on the papal conclave following the death of a fictional pope, with Cardinal Lawrence, played by Ralph Fiennes, overseeing the process.
One of the main concerns raised by Catholic viewers is the movie's misrepresentation of the papal election process and the Church's teaching on the papacy. The film depicts internal conflicts and political motivations within the Church, which some believe undermines the sanctity and solemnity of the papal conclave. It introduces an intersex cardinal character who becomes Pope, contradicting the Church's doctrine that the priesthood is reserved exclusively for men. This has led to concerns about the film's potential impact on Catholics, with some questioning the possibility of a biological woman serving as Pope.
Additionally, "Conclave" has been criticized for perpetuating negative stereotypes about Church leaders and focusing on scandals and power struggles. This portrayal diminishes the positive contributions and dedication of many clergy members. The film also contains controversial plot points, such as allusions to a former pope being part of the Hitler Youth and the cavalier treatment of the sacrament confession. These elements contribute to the perception of an anti-Catholic bias and an ideological agenda.
Furthermore, some viewers have pointed out inaccuracies in the film's depiction of canon law and implicit slander of historical figures, such as Benedict XVI. The movie's attention-grabbing plot developments and exploitation of sordid secrets have been uncomfortable for Catholic audiences, reinforcing their belief that the film seeks to undermine the credibility of the Church and the faith of its members.
While the film has a serious tone and a top-flight cast, including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and Sergio Castellitto, its portrayal of the Catholic Church and sensitive topics has been a significant point of contention for many Catholic viewers.
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Frequently asked questions
No. Despite an all-star cast and a fascinating premise, the film is fundamentally a power-struggle potboiler with a predictable plot, cardboard characters, and a whole lot of clichés and stereotypes.
No. The film contains murky moral values, plot developments requiring mature discernment, and a couple of mild oaths. It has been described as blasphemous, anti-Catholic propaganda that undermines the credibility of the Church and the faith of its members.
Conclave is about a papal conclave, where a hundred cardinals are locked together in a convent and only one will be elected pope.
Conclave stars Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence, Stanley Tucci as Cardinal Bellini, Sergio Castellitto as Cardinal Tedesco, Lucian Msamati as Cardinal Adeyemi, and John Lithgow as a curial schemer.
