Papal conclave puts spotlight on 'Conclave' movie: How accurate is it?
The start of the papal conclave in Vatican City has sparked renewed interest in the Oscar-winning movie "Conclave," which depicts the secretive process of electing a new pope.
The 2024 movie, starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini, is based on the 2016 bestselling novel of the same name by Robert Harris and offers an inside look as cardinals from around the world gather inside the Sistine Chapel to cast their ballots.
Following Pope Francis' death on April 28 -- which set into process the start of a new papal conclave -- "Conclave" saw a 283% increase in viewership on streaming platforms, according to Luminate, an entertainment-focused data company.
Though the movie has a shocking ending that has never occurred in a real-life papal conclave, its detailed depiction of secretive rituals and politicking following the death of of a pope has left viewers wondering what is fact and what is fiction.
Here is what to know as the world's eyes turn to Vatican City and the start of the papal conclave to elect the 267th pope.
What really happens after the death of a pope?
The gathering of cardinals for the conclave typically commences between 15 to 20 days after the pope's death. The conclave includes all cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible to participate.
Once in Rome, the cardinals spend their time housed in private rooms in the Domus Marthae Sanctae, which is a residence hotel in the Vatican with dining facilities that usually house visiting clergy and laity. Per tradition, the cardinals are cut off from the outside world, including televisions, phones, computers and newspapers.
The College of Cardinals will cast as many as four ballots in a single day for the next pope, with a two-thirds majority required to elect a pontiff. After each vote, the ballots are burned and smoke is released from the Sistine Chapel's chimney as a signal to the throngs holding vigil in St. Peter's Square.
Black smoke – fumata nera in Italian – indicates an inconclusive vote, while white smoke – fumata bianca – will signify that a new pope has been elected. If three days pass with no pope elected, voting can be suspended for a day to allow the cardinals time for reflection before the next round of ballots are cast.
Once the College of Cardinals elects a new pope, the candidate is formally asked in the Sistine Chapel if he accepts the election and, if so, to choose his papal name. While popes have the option of keeping their baptismal name, every pope for the last 470 years has chosen to change his name, usually to honor a predecessor and to signal their intention to emulate his example.
The interregnum ends when the newly elected pope makes his first public appearance in his new role, stepping onto the central balcony at St. Peter's Basilica, overlooking St. Peter's Square, to bless the gathered crowd there after being introduced by the senior cardinal deacon with the traditional declaration "Habemus papum" – Latin for "We have a pope."
Is the politicking in 'Conclave' something that really happens?
Yes, according to Robert Harris, the author of the bestselling book on which "Conclave" is based.
Harris told ABC News that he conducted extensive research, including conversations with cardinals who participated in previous conclaves, to inform his 2016 novel, which is also titled "Conclave."
He said he learned that it is during the breaks between the multiple votes each day that the "wheeling and dealing" occurs among cardinals.
"It's in those times [between votes] that almost inevitably, they talk about what is happening," Harris said.
Harris noted that past conclaves have proven the unpredictable nature of papal selection.
"Anyone who thinks they can predict the outcome of a conclave is a fool," he said, explaining that frontrunners often face challenges.
Are any women involved in the real-life conclave?
In the film 'Conclave,' Rossellini portrays Sister Agnes, the only female in the otherwise all-male conclave. In reality, only men participate in the conclave.
Per Catholic doctrine, only baptized, Catholic males are allowed to be priests, who can then go on to be cardinals. Only male cardinals under the age of 80 can vote in a conclave, and only men are eligible to be elected pope.
Did Vatican officials participate in the making of 'Conclave'?
"Conclave" screenwriter Peter Straughan said that the filmmakers were "welcomed" by Vatican officials.
"We were given a private tour of the Vatican and they were quite welcoming, actually, quite helpful," Straughan told USA Today in an article published Monday. "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."
Was 'Conclave' filmed at the Vatican?
No, according to Straughan, who told USA Today that no filming was allowed at the Vatican, which forced the filmmakers to shoot on soundstages and in locations in and around Rome.
Was the pope who died in 'Conclave' based on Pope Francis?
Yes, although loosely, according to Harris.
Harris told The New York Times last year that he had Pope Francis in mind when writing the book, for which he began research when Francis was elected in 2013.
"I thought he was an interesting figure to take and to look at the risks and rivalries and problems that were under the surface," Harris said. "And I liked the idea of that sort of political tension under the surface."
Did the filmmakers draw inspiration from current Catholic leaders?
Yes again, according to Straughan.
Straughan told The New York Times that he gained insight from a cardinal regarding conclave logistics but not necessarily the politicking that is depicted in "Conclave."
"This is the most secretive election in the world, it's quite hard to get the inside scoop," he said.
Fiennes, Oscar-nominated for his role as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence in "Conclave," told the Los Angeles Times that he also spoke with religious leaders to prepare for the role.
"Organizational skills, bureaucratic skills and executive skills is what the Vatican looks for," he said he learned. "They look for priests who, of course, have to be true men of God and committed to the Catholic Church. But, specifically, the Vatican wants people who are capable."
ABC News' Phoebe Natanson and Christopher Watson contributed to this report.
