How accurate is Conclave? A Pope’s death as depicted by Hollywood

The death of a pope and the events that follow were shown in Conclave – but how realistic is it? (Picture: AP/Getty)

The selection of a new pope hit the big screen not long before Pope Francis’ death in the Oscar-winning Conclave.

The Vatican announced today that Pope Francis has died aged 88 after leading the Catholic Church for 12 years.

He was elected in March 2013 following the historic resignation of his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI.

Francis recently left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he was admitted on February 14 after having difficulty breathing.

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It later emerged he was suffering from a complex respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia, which can inflame and scar both lungs and makes breathing more difficult.

His death has set in motion the process for a new pope to be elected, known as conclave.

This ceremony was shown in the multi-award-winning film Conclave, which features a star-studded cast. But how accurare was the movie?

What happens in Conclave?

Directed by Edward Berger, 2024 historical drama Conclave follows Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) organising a conclave to elect the next pope.

Ralph Fiennes stars as Cardinal Lawrence who is tasked with organising a conclave (Picture: AP) The same event will take place following Pope Francis’ death (Picture: TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)

As the deliberations get underway, Cardinal Lawrence finds himself investigating secrets and scandals about the major candidates.

The film begins with the pope dying of a heart attack, with Cardinal Lawrence convening with the College of Cardinals to elect his successor.

There are four leading candidates in the running: Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci) of the United States, a progressive; Joshua Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) of Nigeria, a social conservative; Joseph Tremblay (John Lithgow) of Canada, a moderate; and Goffredo Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) of Italy, a staunch traditionalist.

Matters become complicated when Archbishop Janusz Woźniak (Jacek Koman) insists the pope demanded Tremblay’s resignation before dying, which Tremblay denies.

A short time later, Archbishop Vincent Benitez (Carlos Diehz) of Kabul, whom the pope named cardinal in pectore the previous year, arrives for deliberations.