Ethan Walker
The Two Popes is a 2019 biographical drama film directed by Fernando Meirelles and written by Anthony McCarten. The film follows the relationship between Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, exploring the role of the Catholic Church in the modern world. It is predominantly set in Vatican City and centres around the ideological and temperamental differences between the two leaders of the Catholic Church, driving debates about the future of organised religion in the 21st century. The movie combines biography with creative license, depicting Pope Francis as a strong-willed progressive and Pope Benedict XVI as a rigid, uncompromising leader.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Biographical drama |
| Based on | Play 'The Pope' by Anthony McCarten |
| Plot | Relationship between Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis |
| Central conflict | Whether the Catholic Church should adapt to new expectations or hold fast to old ways |
| Themes | Change, tradition, continuity, modernity |
| Tone | Heartwarming, humorous |
| Factual accuracy | Based on true events with some fictionalised dialogue and scenes |
| Reception | Positive and negative reviews from Roman Catholics; Oscar nominations for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Jonathan Pryce) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Anthony McCarten) |
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What You'll Learn
Pope Benedict XVI's resignation
The Two Popes is a biographical drama film directed by Fernando Meirelles and written by Anthony McCarten. The film is predominantly set in Vatican City and follows the story of Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who later became Pope Francis. The film explores the ideological and temperamental differences between the two religious leaders and their theological debates about the future of 21st-century organised religion. One of the key themes of the movie is the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, which took effect on 28 February 2013.
In the film, Pope Benedict XVI is portrayed as a rigid and uncompromising leader who believes in a return to traditional principles as a solution to the struggles of the Catholic Church in modern times. On the other hand, Cardinal Bergoglio is depicted as a progressive and strong-willed leader who is more comfortable working on projects for the poor and giving open-air sermons than participating in the solemn rituals of the Vatican.
In real life, Pope Benedict XVI's resignation came as a shock to many, as he became the first pope to voluntarily step down since Celestine V in 1294. The pope cited declining health and old age as the reasons for his decision, stating that he no longer had the strength to carry out his duties as head of the Roman Catholic Church.
In the film, Pope Benedict XVI confides in Cardinal Bergoglio, expressing his intention to resign due to his regret over his silence regarding Father Marcial Maciel's long-term sexual misconduct. Cardinal Bergoglio, initially shocked by Pope Benedict XVI's decision, eventually comforts him and offers him absolution.
The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI marked a significant transition of power in the Roman Catholic Church, with Cardinal Bergoglio being elected as his successor in the 2013 papal conclave and becoming Pope Francis.
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Pope Francis' election
The 2013 papal conclave elected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis on 13 March 2013. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American, and the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere. He was also the first non-European elected in almost 1,300 years and the first member of a religious order elected in nearly two centuries.
Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to a family of Italian origin. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1969 and became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. He was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.
Pope Francis is known for his progressive and liberal attitudes, particularly on the Church's role in combating poverty and inequality. He has supported the decriminalization of homosexuality and believed the Catholic Church should demonstrate more inclusivity to LGBTQ people. He has also been involved in international diplomacy, such as helping to restore full diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States and encouraging peace between Israel and Palestine.
Pope Francis's election was met with mixed reactions. While most of Argentine society cheered it, there were also renewed allegations about the Dirty War, and the president of the National Library described a global conspiracy theory. Pope Francis celebrated his inauguration on 19 March 2013 and was installed as Bishop of Rome on 7 April.
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The ideological differences between the two popes
The Two Popes is a biographical drama film that explores the relationship and ideological differences between Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, during a pivotal time in Catholic Church history. The film is inspired by true events, although some scenes and dialogues are fictionalised. The two leaders of the Catholic Church are depicted as having opposing views on the future direction of the church in the 21st century, with Pope Benedict XVI portrayed as a traditionalist and Pope Francis as a liberal.
Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger, is shown as a rigid and uncompromising leader. He was known as a progressive in his early years but became more conservative with age. Ratzinger was a Catholic academic for decades, teaching dogma and theology, and writing theological tracts. He served as an expert assistant at the Second Vatican Council in the mid-1960s. In 1977, he became the archbishop of Munich and Freising, and in 1981, he was made the Vatican's theological watchdog under Pope John Paul II. He gained a reputation for his strict attitudes and intelligence. As Pope, Benedict XVI is shown to have a fondness for Fanta, drinking at least four cans of the soda every day. He is also depicted as a fan of old movies, particularly those based on the "The Little World of Don Camillo" books by Giovanni Guareschi.
On the other hand, Pope Francis, formerly the archbishop of Buenos Aires and Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is portrayed as a strong-willed progressive. He is shown to be more comfortable giving open-air sermons and working on projects for the poor than participating in the Vatican's solemn rituals. Bergoglio ended his marital engagement and joined the Jesuits, where he met Father Franz Jalics and Father Orlando Yorio, who became his spiritual friends. After being stripped of his leadership responsibilities and sent to Córdoba, Argentina, in 1990, Bergoglio returned with a new perspective. He embraced more liberal attitudes on the Church's role in combating poverty and inequality, which he carried with him to the Vatican. As Pope, Francis adopted a simpler lifestyle than his predecessors, choosing to wear normal shoes instead of expensive ones and sometimes forgoing the traditional white hat. He also opted for a second-hand Ford Focus instead of the usual big black Mercedes.
The film depicts the two popes as having differing opinions on tradition and continuity, with Benedict XVI valuing tradition and Francis advocating for change. Their ideological differences are further highlighted by their contrasting personalities, with Benedict XVI portrayed as a rigid and uncompromising leader, while Francis is shown as more warm-hearted and spiritually vibrant.
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The future of the Catholic Church
Pope Benedict XVI is portrayed as a rigid and uncompromising leader who believes that a return to traditional principles is the best course of action for a Church struggling with 21st-century problems. On the other hand, Pope Francis is shown to be a strong-willed progressive, comfortable giving open-air sermons and working on projects for the poor. He embraces more liberal attitudes on the Church's role in combating poverty and inequality, and his papacy is marked by a simpler lifestyle compared to his predecessors.
The film also touches on the issue of celibacy among priests and the role of women in the Church, which are debates with significant ramifications for the lives of the world's more than one billion Catholics. While some aspects of the film are fictionalized for storytelling purposes, it is inspired by true events and explores the very real debates within the Catholic Church.
Overall, "The Two Popes" presents a complex and nuanced portrayal of the Catholic Church's future, highlighting the ideological differences and theological debates that shape the direction of this ancient institution in the 21st century. The film invites audiences to consider the challenges of balancing tradition and continuity with the need for change and adaptation in a modern world.
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The accuracy of the film's portrayal of the popes
The Two Popes is a biographical drama film that explores the relationship between Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis during a pivotal time in Catholic Church history. The film is inspired by true events, but some scenes and dialogues are fictionalized for storytelling purposes.
The film centres around the ideological and temperamental differences between the two leaders and the theological debates that spring from them. Pope Francis, formerly known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is portrayed as a strong-willed progressive, comfortable giving open-air sermons and working on projects for the poor. This depiction may not be far from the truth, as Francis became the first Jesuit pope and chose the name St Francis of Assisi, the saint of the poor, to represent his aim to be humble and more like the poor and Jesus. However, as the movie suggests, simplifying Bergoglio as a religious leader would be a mistake.
On the other hand, Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger, is shown as a rigid, uncompromising leader who believed that a return to principles was the best course for a church struggling with 21st-century problems. While Ratzinger was known as a progressive in his youth, he became more conservative as he aged. The film portrays him as campaigning shamelessly for his election as Pope in 2005, which is disputed by some as he is believed to have begged Pope John Paul II to allow him to retire from his position. Additionally, the film's implication that Benedict allowed Father Marcial Maciel to remain the leader of the Legionaries of Christ despite evidence of sexual misconduct has been criticised as inaccurate, as it was during the papacy of Pope John Paul II that efforts to investigate Maciel were frustrated.
Overall, while taking artistic liberties with some details, the film accurately captures the contrasting personalities and theological differences between the two popes, with one source commenting that viewers can be assured that the content of their conversations is based on what the two men had actually stated at one point or another. The film also accurately portrays the historical context of the Catholic Church's struggle to adapt to modern times and the very real debates within the Church, such as celibacy among priests and the role of women, which have significant ramifications for the lives of Catholics worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
The film is based on the premise that former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina visits the Vatican to tender his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI, only to find that Benedict himself is about to resign from the papacy.
'The Two Popes' is a biographical drama film inspired by true events.
The film explores the relationship between Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis and their ideological and temperamental differences, as well as the theological debates that spring from them.
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