Francis Inspired Films from Conclave to Two Popes
Vatican City: The backdrop to a papal election, filled with machinations, mysteries, and secret rituals, has long served as a rich source of inspiration for filmmakers worldwide.
According to Ansa News Agency, the mortal destiny of Pope Francis, a charismatic pontiff nearing ninety, has further fueled cinematic narratives, with Edward Berger’s “Conclave” making a notable impact at the last Oscars by winning for non-original screenplay. The film, featuring Ralph Fiennes as the protagonist cardinal, alongside Isabella Rossellini and Sergio Castellitto, received praise from Vatican insiders for its authentic depiction of events between Santa Marta and the Sistine Chapel. It also achieved box office success, grossing $115 million globally. The film will premiere on the small screen on May 5 on Sky Cinema Uno and is available for home viewing through Eagle Pictures or rental on streaming platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Mediaset Infinity.
The rise of Jorge Mario Bergoglio to the papal throne in March 2013 marked the beginning of a new trend in films inspired by his persona. His less hieratic, more approachable, and profoundly contemporary image shattered clich©s, prompting a cinematic exploration of themes such as spirituality, conscience, power, and the crisis of religious authority.
The catalyst for this trend was undoubtedly “The Two Popes,” directed by Fernando Meirelles, featuring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce. Released in 2019 and now available on Netflix, it is a biopic set on the eve of Benedict XVI’s resignation, imagining a dialogue at Castel Gandolfo between the conservative German pope and the progressive Argentine archbishop, Bergoglio, on faith, sin, and change.
“The Two Popes,” with three Oscar nominations for screenplay and acting, brought the Vatican back into the global cinematic spotlight, a theme previously explored by Hollywood in films like “The Godfather: Part III” (1990) and “Angels and Demons” (2009), based on Dan Brown’s novel.
Francis has also inspired documentaries. In 2018, “Pope Francis – A Man of His Word” by Wim Wenders portrayed the pontiff as a moral leader addressing contemporary issues like poverty, the environment, and social justice. Two years later, “Francis” by Evgeny Afineevsky, which won the Kin©o Award at the Venice Film Festival, made waves with its statements on migrant and gay rights.
Gianfranco Rosi’s 2022 film “In viaggio,” presented Out of Competition in Venice, emotionally retraces the Pope’s travels, creating a sort of remote dialogue between archival footage of his journeys and current events. Additionally, the 2015 biopic “Call Me Francis” by Daniele Luchetti, broadcast on Mediaset, revisits Bergoglio’s youth in Buenos Aires during the dictatorship years.
Before these, there was Nanni Moretti’s 2011 film “Habemus Papam,” with Michel Piccoli portraying a pope who flees the Vatican, prophetically anticipating a fragile, human papacy. Paolo Sorrentino’s series “The Young Pope,” starring Jude Law, offers a completely imaginative take with a baroque flair.