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The College of Cardinals is sequestered in apartments (the Domus Sanctae Marthae, House of St
Tale
When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world’s most secretive and long-running events, the selection of a new pope, he finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundations of the Catholic Church. Many of the actions taken by Cardinal Lawrence and the other cardinals during the film’s conclave process are true to the Catholic faith and centuries of tradition. After the pope’s death, his ring (called the Fisherman’s Ring) is removed and destroyed; this is to prevent it from being used to forge the papal seal on documents. The Vatican officially announces that the throne of the Holy See (the governing body of the Catholic Church) is vacant. The papal apartment is closed with a crimson ribbon and sealed with a papal wax seal.
Martha) to eat and sleep between votes
Finally, the windows and doors of the Sistine Chapel, where the actual election takes place and ballots are cast, are darkened, closed and locked to maintain the secrecy of the conclave. Some of the more recent real-life security measures are also shown, when the conclave that elected Pope Francis I met in 2013, the Sistine Chapel was searched for microphones and other electronic listening devices, identity cards were issued to all conclave servants because a journalist disguised as a servant was discovered during the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, all members of the College of Cardinals were ordered to hand over their cell phones and other electronic devices, the Vatican City Wi-Fi network was temporarily shut down, and wireless signal jammers were installed in the Sistine Chapel. Ayendi is said to be the first African pope. The Roman Catholic Church has had three African popes: Victor the First (189-199 CE), Miltiades (also known as Melchiades, 311-314 CE), and Gelasius the First (492-496 CE). Lawrence: Our faith is alive precisely because it goes hand in hand with doubt.
And therefore no need for faith
If there were only certainty and no doubt, there would be no mystery. Let us pray that God will grant us a Pope who doubts. And that He will grant us a Pope who sins and asks for forgiveness and continues. Featured on The 7PM Project: Episode dated December 10, 2024 (2024). Allegri: Miserere Performed by Capella Musicale Pontificia Sistina, Massimo Palombella Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon GMBH Licensed by Universal Music Operations Ltd.
Greetings again from the darkness
It feels like a long time since we’ve seen a good old-fashioned, serious, tension-filled drama with big movie stars. Well, that’s exactly what director Edward Berger, fresh off his Oscar-winning THE DARK WESTERN KINGDOM (2022), delivers with his latest film. Writer Peter Straughan (TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, 2011) adapted Robert Harris’ 2016 novel, and the result is a welcome blockbuster that could earn Oscar consideration. Ralph Fiennes delivers what may be his best performance to date. And that’s saying a lot for the highly respected actor who has previously distinguished himself in films such as SCHINDLER’S LIST (1993), THE GARDENER CONSTANT (2005), IN BRUGES (2008), A BIGGER SPLASH (2018) and THE MENU (2022).
Director Berger chooses to show us very little of the actual negotiations, instead highlighting the various iterations of loyalty in each successive (of course) secret vote
His impressive career is only enhanced by this latest role as Cardinal Lawrence, tasked with the daunting task of facilitating the titular conclave to elect the new pope. When the film opens, the beloved pope has just passed away… and as they say, “let the games begin.” Of course, these games are all about political maneuvering, power struggles, and behind-the-scenes promises.
