Catholic cardinals are — believe it or not — turning to the Hollywood blockbuster “Conclave” for insight on how the real ritual they’re about to partake in might play out, according to reports.
“Some have watched it in the cinema,” a Vatican cleric working on the secretive ceremony told Politico.
The Ralph Fiennes movie was released just four months before Pope Francis died in April – uncanny timing, which has left the world on the edge of its seat as 133 cardinals gather in the Vatican Wednesday to begin the centuries-old ritual.
Many of the cardinals participating were appointed by Pope Francis and have never experienced a conclave for themselves – and the extremely well-researched and accurate film has become a resource for newcomers, the cleric added.
“Conclave” is rife with drama – backstabbing, scandalous accusations, and little-known cardinals coming to the fore of the process — some of which has begun to play out in real life ahead of Wednesday’s ceremony.