David Gibson, Director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University, examinedConclaveand explained how much cardinals campaign in real life.Conclaveis based on Robert Harris' 2016 novel of the same name, and follows Cardinal Lawrence, who leads a conclave at the Vatican to select a new pope. Reviews forConclavehave been exceptional, and the film currently has a score of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Thecast ofConclaveincludes Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini, and Carlos Diehz.
In an interview withGQ,Gibson explains how much cardinals campaign at a real-life conclave, stressing that they have to be careful with their campaigning so that they don’t seem too ambitious. ThroughoutConclave, several cardinals are shown to be much more ambitious than others. Gibson also evaluates how likely it is that the cardinal who eventually gets elected inConclavewould be chosen in real life, claiming that it is possible. Read Gibson’s full comments below:
Some cardinals do campaign, but they need to do it quietly because if you’re seen as ambitious, you’re done. The key is to have allies who campaign for you. If you are seen as an odds-on favorite, your fellow cardinals will not vote for you. As the Romans say, “He who enters the conclave a pope, leaves it a cardinal.”
There are some frontrunners but it’s usually a large group, 15 to 20 plausible candidates. In centuries past, it was much more predictable but since John XXIII was elected as an outsider in 1958, it’s been anyone’s guess. The cardinals don’t want to go for a total unknown — if they pick a dark horse, they want that cardinal to be a safe choice, a known quantity. But they can still be surprised by who the safe bet becomes, as it happened with Pope Francis.
What Gibson’s Comments Mean For Conclave
The Cardinals Don’t Want To Select An Overly Ambitious Pope In Conclave
The goal of the conclave is to choose the most worthy candidate to be the new pope. Therefore, Gibson’s comments about campaigning line up with what is shown in the film.Several cardinals inConclaveare shown to be quite ambitious, such as Cardinal Bellini, Cardinal Tremblay, and Cardinal Tedesco. These three cardinals all have several followers who campaign for them throughout the movie. However, there is also worry that they are too ambitious, and therefore should not be chosen to be the new pope.
Any move against another cardinal will be viewed as a strategy that is meant to undermine their chances of becoming pope.
Fiennes' Cardinal Lawrence is one of the cardinals who views these cardinals as too ambitious at various points in the movie. However, he himself is also accused of scheming to be selected as the new pope. This proves that any move against another cardinal will be viewed as a strategy that is meant to undermine their chances of becoming pope. By theend ofConclave,a cardinal who was viewed by the others as someone with selfless intentions was eventually chosen to be the new pope.
Our Take On Gibson’s Comments About The Campaigning Seen In Conclave
The Campaigning In Conclave Is Realistic
The fact that the campaigning process in the movie is an accurate depiction of a real-life conclave proves whyreviews forConclavehave been so strong. Since the real-life conclave is such a secretive event, it was fascinating to learn specific details of the process in the movie. It is great to read Gibson’s analysis of the movie and learn that the campaigning and the political maneuvers that are seen inConclaveare actually realistic.
Conclave
Cast
Cardinal Lawrence leads the secretive papal election at the Vatican, where he uncovers a conspiracy and a secret that could destabilize the Church’s foundation as leaders gather from around the world.
