Art imitates life, or at least on streaming. As the world mourns the death of Pope Francis, the Oscar-winning thriller “Conclave” debuted on Prime Video on Tuesday, coinciding with the Vatican’s preparations for a real papal conclave.
Viewers draw parallels to real-world events
Viewers are drawing connections between the 2024 film’s plot and current events. In real life, people are speculating about who the next pope might be, with some even placing bets. In the film, director Edward Berger explores the same process: how the Catholic Church selects a new pope after the death of a pontiff.
The film stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. According to Google Trends, searches for “Conclave” spiked on April 21, which is the same day Pope Francis passed away.
Online users have pointed out the film’s uncanny timing. One snarky post read, “The marketing for this movie is crazy,” while another user asked X’s AI chatbot Grok, “Did the pope die so that this movie could get a bump?”
Despite the timing, the release was scheduled well in advance. The main cast and crew signed onto the project in 2022, and Screen Rant reports the film was originally set to release on Prime Video on April 13.
How accurate is ‘Conclave’?
“Conclave” is based on a novel by Robert Harris, who told The New York Times in 2024 that Pope Francis inspired the personality of the pope who dies in the book. However, the movie is not a documentary.
The film accurately depicts some of the Catholic Church’s real traditions, including the setting of the Sistine Chapel, the oath of secrecy taken by cardinals, and the black or white smoke coming from the Sistine Chapel roof signaling whether a new pope has been chosen.
In real life, cardinals will gather within 15 to 20 days after a pope’s death to cast secret ballots. However, unlike the film, cardinals appointed in secret are not allowed to participate in the conclave.
