Don’t Watch Conclave - Watch The Two Popes

It shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me that everyone ran to go watch Conclave after Pope Francis’ passing on Easter Monday - and yet there I was, shocked. I understand the impulse, sure. There’s going to be a new Pope, so of course everyone wants to watch the picking-a-new-Pope movie! But I’m not convinced that Conclave is the best depiction of a conclave, at least if you’re aiming for realism. More importantly, though, a real person died, and I'm not sure watching a fictional melodrama set where he worked is really the most respectful response, regardless of whether you're a believer or not.

No, if you’re going to watch anything right now, at least watch The Two Popes first.

Even if you haven’t watched The Two Popes yet, you’re probably familiar with the broad strokes of the story, because it was major international news at one point: Pope Benedict XVI resigned and Pope Francis was elected. Two Popes at the same time - not unheard of in the Catholic Church, but certainly not expected in the modern day either.

The story of how we ended up with two Popes is only the most literal reading of the film. However, on a deeper level, The Two Popes is an examination of who the Catholic church wants to be, because that’s what the election of a new Pope really means. It’s not about terrorist attacks, endless scandals, and an intersex Pope (though anything could happen, I suppose); it’s about the whole political, social, and spiritual direction the Catholic church is deciding to take.

So who was Pope Francis, both as a man and as one of the most important spiritual leaders in the world? What did it mean to choose him?

There are a thousand ways you could answer the question, but what stood out to me most in The Two Popes were the flashbacks to Pope Francis’s past, both before and after he joined the clergy. Not because they show what a pious man he was (though it definitely does that too), but because they remind us that he was a man, not some perfect ideal of faith. He loved, he lost, he made mistakes - mistakes that some would say are unforgivable.

Including, it would seem, Pope Francis himself.

It sounds strange, I know. Why would anyone want an imperfect Pope? But the answer becomes pretty clear the more we get to know Pope Benedict XVI, or at least Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of him. We come to see that while he cares deeply about his faith, he doesn’t leave room for error - and that means no room for change either. Tradition at any cost, even if that means ignoring both deeper societal issues and the evils lurking within the church as well. He’s become a perfect figurehead at the expense of his humanity… And in doing so, he’s lost his connection not only with the laypeople, but with God as well.

And so, in the depths of his crisis of belief, he seeks out the future Pope Francis.

To me, The Two Popes is a perfect study of how different Popes can shape what faith and devotion means. More importantly, it shows what we need in a Pope right now: someone who understands sin through experience. Someone who knows humanity because they know that they are human as well; that mistakes, pain, and regret are an inevitable part of life. I’m not Catholic, so I obviously can’t say I represent how any actual members of the church feel, but I think we need a Pope who knows and who can remind us that the human and the divine aren’t separate but rather deeply, fundamentally, intertwined.

But that’s also why I’m scared.

Because as progressive and forward-thinking The Two Popes made Pope Francis out to be, I still know he’s only progressive for a Pope. I admire him as a step forward, and I do truly believe he had a good heart. Even though he was the best we could have hoped for, I want so much more. Still, I'm not foolish enough to think that will happen, of course. No, what really worries me isn't that we'll get more of the same, it's that we'll end up sliding backwards, and with the way the world is right now... We really can’t afford losing even the smallest gains.

Most of the likely candidates for the next Pope are moderate to conservative, and I know I should expect that from an institution as old as the Catholic church, but I want better for the sake of all of us. I want inclusion, forgiveness, outreach… I want a place that transcends the petty worries of life and feels as safe as home. Sadly, I don’t think that’s in the cards - or on the ballots, if I want to be a bit more accurate.

The Two Popes is the best film to watch right now because it’s a poignant reminder, not only of what hangs in the balance, but also of what we’ve lost with Pope Francis’ passing. He wasn’t a saint, it’s true, but none of us are. Whoever is chosen as the next Pope determines whether a huge section of the spiritual world is opening its arms or closing its doors, and in times like these… Maybe you don’t need open arms, but I do.

Unfortunately, if Conclave taught me anything, it’s that the choice isn’t in my hands. Whether it’s in the hands of power-hungry church politicians or God… Well, I suppose all I can do is pray.