Conclave
Warning: This post contains spoilers for ConclaveConclaves ending is memorable and a conversation starter.
Benitez is an intersex person who believed he was male well into adulthood.
His gender was never questioned, and he was sent to a seminary early on in life.
Cardinal Benitez ultimately decided against the hysterectomy, opting to remain as God created him.
Benitez didnt tell anyone about this, save for the pope and the doctor who examined him.
Given the issues of corruption rife inConclave’s background, it’s a fitting name to choose.
You see it in childrenthey have no bad experience, theyre theoretically only positive, only open towards others.
They have no prejudices.
So Benitez comes to us with absolute openness, and I think thats what it means.
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.
Its likely because Benitez is already Pope when Lawrence learns about it.
Andif the late pope was fine with Benitez as is, then Lawrence likely wasas well.
To keep the purity, the innocence of your true belief.
It doesnt really matter whether youre a cardinal or a filmmaker or journalist or an engineer.
Its a crack that a light can shine through, a guiding light for the future, perhaps.
And the future is a world where maybe both can exist?
He hears three nuns laughing, and it’s an important moment.
Amphibious, and arent they sort of symbols of spiritual independence?
I think maybe they are.
Isabella Rossellini: I think there is this sense of claustrophobia, because they are all inside Sistine Chapel.
And he hears that feminine laughter of those three nuns.
In a way, its the future and it evokes a smile on him.
I am what God made me.
Perhaps it is my difference that will make me more useful.
I think again of your sermon.
I know what it is to exist between the worlds certainties.
But it is less a statement than a Rubiks Cube.
Does the new pope identify as male or female?
Does having characteristics of both sexes mean that they cant be ordained, or become pope?
Would such an election be invalid?
These become angels-dancing-on-pinhead discussions that distract from the more important issues.
During that time, Pope Francis met with a group of trans and intersex Catholics.
This is never explained in the film for reasons of time, Im sure.
At the same time, Lawrence wasnt convinced about being pope, despite Benitez always voting for him.
Lawrence goes from being someone who doubts to being a bit more certain the longerConclavegoes on.
Cardinal Joshua Adeyemi
Had an earlier affair with Sister Shanumi, resulting in a child.
Cardinal Vincent Benitez
A secret cardinalin pectorewho is intersex.
This comes to light during the conclave as Adeyemi is emerging as the frontrunner for pope.
Whats more, a nun’s arrival from Nigeria puts Cardinal Adeyemi on the spot.
Robert Harris' book was released in 2016 and became a best-selling novel.
Otherwise,Conclaveis a fairly loyal adaptation of Harris book.
That said, I have to stipulate that all conclaves are, by their nature, absurd.
Conclavesees them at a crossroads.
Being sequestered from others is a physical manifestation of their not being too involved in the world around them.
Some of the cardinals political scheming is more about winning than about wanting to help.
Benitez’s secret is perhaps the best and most unexpected way to bring the Catholic Church forward completely.
Of course it isnt.
And it’s allowed to be those things.
Whether it means to be or not.
However, perhaps the biggest complimentConclavereceived regarding its ending came from an article inCinemablend.
