Warning: This post contains major spoilers for Conclave

Cardinal Vincent Benitez is perhaps one of the most interesting characters in Conclave’s cast seems more wary of him. Benitez keeps mostly to himself and is quite secretive about his health after the topic is initially broached by Lawrence. Of course, the reason why Cardinal Benitez is so evasive is revealed to Cardinal Lawrence in Conclave’s ending.

Conclave is one of Ralph Fiennes' best-rated movies on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is getting a lot of awards attention.

After making a powerful speech, the rest of the conclave were endeared to Cardinal Benitez, and the soft-spoken cardinal became a top contender in the running for pope, a position Benitez ultimately received after the final votes were counted. Before Benitez could be publicly named as pope, Cardinal Lawrence came to see him and that’s when Benitez opened up to Lawrence about his health and medical history. It’s a subject that only a couple of people knew about besides Benitez. While other cardinals’ secrets were aired out throughout Conclave, Benitez’s secret remained shrouded in mystery — until the very end.

Conclave's Ending Reveals Benitez Is Intersex

This Revelation Came As A Big Surprise At The End Of Conclave

In a private moment between Cardinal Lawrence and Cardinal Benitez, the latter revealed they were an intersex individual and had nearly had a hysterectomy to remove their uterus. Cardinal Benitez had believed himself to be male his whole life. No one around Benitez questioned that — neither before or after he entered seminary early on in life to become a priest. Benitez only discovered he had a uterus after an injury from a car bomb led to a doctor’s examination that confirmed it. While the pope arranged for a hysterectomy, Cardinal Benitez never showed up for the procedure.

When Cardinal Benitez discovered he was intersex, he offered to resign from his position, but the pope discouraged him from leaving the priesthood. The revelation was something Cardinal Benitez had to come to with, especially since it was probably as surprising to him as it was to Cardinal Lawrence when he first found out. By the end of Conclave, Benitez likely felt lighter knowing he no longer had to carry the secret on his own. The fact Benitez trusted Lawrence is a testament to the bond that was forged throughout the election for a pope and would continue forward.

The Former Pope Knew About Benitez's Secret

The Late Pope Kept The Information Private

The late (unnamed) pope knew about Cardinal Benitez’s secret and kept it from everyone, including Cardinal Lawrence. Even when Benitez ultimately refused to undergo the procedure, the pope stood by him and respected his decision. Benitez was sincere in his faith, and the pope, who seemed more progressive in thought than some of the cardinals, knew this.

In general, the pope harbored many secrets, not just Benitez’s. He also knew about Cardinal Tremblay’s attempts to bribe some of the cardinals to buy their votes. That the late pope would make Benitez a cardinal just before the conclave meant that he suspected he would die soon, and he wanted someone like Benitez — loyal, faithful, sincere — to be a part of the election.

Why Benitez Did Not Get A Hysterectomy

Cardinal Benitez Had Sound Reasons For Not Having The Surgery

Cardinal Benitez ultimately opted out of undergoing a hysterectomy because he wanted his body to stay the way God had created it. Benitez didn’t want to alter anything because being intersex was nothing to be ashamed of. If he was born this way, then that was how he was going to continue to live. At the same time, Benitez likely understood his circumstances would be considered controversial for many within the Catholic Church, which is why he wasn’t so readily willing to discuss it until the end of Conclave, and only with Lawrence.

The Real Reason Cardinal Lawrence Doesn't Reveal Benitez's Secret

Cardinal Lawrence Is Keeping This Secret To Himself For Now

Cardinal Lawrence was both fond of and frustrated with Cardinal Benitez throughout Conclave. Benitez was one of Lawrence’s biggest ers, despite the latter’s claims of being uninterested in being pope, and there was a sense of understanding between the two that Lawrence didn’t necessarily have with others in the group. While Cardinal Lawrence was okay with revealing Cardinal Tremblay’s secret — in a very public fashion — he didn’t do the same with Benitez’s secret, likely because he may have felt like it would be a deep betrayal of Benitez’s trust. After all, Benitez didn’t have to tell him the truth.

This was more personal, and it would’ve felt wrong for Lawrence to reveal it. It was also not Cardinal Lawrence’s secret to tell and it ultimately didn’t have any repercussions on the elections considering Cardinal Benitez had already been voted in as pope. Cardinal Lawrence seemed to genuinely like Cardinal Benitez, iring his faith, sincerity, and . He wouldn’t have revealed such a big secret to the others without the consent to do so, and Lawrence probably figured Benitez would reveal the truth eventually. And if the pope knew and didn’t say, then Lawrence would undoubtedly follow in his footsteps.

What Conclave's Benitez Twist Means For The New Pope

Benitez’s reveal puts front and center the change some of the cardinals discussed, as Conclave is very much about the clash between the traditions of the Catholic Church and the embrace of progressive ideas in a changing world. The fact the new pope is an intersex individual — though for now unknown to the public — represents one of the biggest changes for the Catholic Church and is a major step forward. Benitez was voted in as pope in adherence to tradition. At the same time, Benitez, ever faithful to God, came to the position with a different perspective considering personal experiences.

It was also not Cardinal Lawrence’s secret to tell and it ultimately didn’t have any repercussions on the elections considering Cardinal Benitez had already been voted in as pope.

The cardinal is the embodiment of what the path forward might look like, as Benitez seems set on bridging the divide and bringing people together. Benitez is hopeful about the present and future, and doesn’t seem keen on focusing on the negatives — he even brings together the rest of the cardinals, who are largely moved by his speech and sense of focus. Benitez seems genuine and his intentions heartfelt.

These are qualities he will bring to his role as pope, which might make people want to rethink certain things and pave the way for more openness moving forward. Conclave ends with the Benitez twist, so anything could happen in this fictional world based on the reality of papal elections, but the fact that audiences come to know Benitez just as he is without the added information suggests the cardinal is the right person for the job. The Catholic Church may initially be rocked by this revelation, but it just might be the perfect combination of tradition and progress.