Faced with the highly secretive and complex ritual of electing a new pope, Catholic cardinals have turned to Hollywood to learn more.
As strange as it may sound, some of the 133 clerics who entered the Sistine Chapel when the conclave began on Wednesday watched the film “Conclave” for further guidance. “Some saw it in the theater,” a cleric involved in the real event admitted to Politico.
The film is seen as remarkably accurate even by the cardinals, the cleric said, making it a useful research tool, especially at a time when many conclave participants have little experience with Vatican politics and protocol.
Most of the cardinals who flocked to Rome since the death of Pope Francis were appointed by the late Pope and have never experienced a conclave.
"Conclave," directed by Edward Berger, follows the events that occur after the death of a fictional Pope and the clashes between cardinals to elect the new Pope.
The film won the "Best Film" award at the Bafta, and was also nominated for an Oscar, where it won the "Best Adapted Screenplay" award.
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