Warning: This post contains spoilers for Conclave.Edward Berger’s Conclave has drawn attention for its shocking conclusion, and a real-life pope expert now explains how realistic it is. The political thriller, based on Robert Harris's 2016 novel, follows the College of Cardinals as they convene to elect a new pope after the sudden death of the previous one. Conclave's cast, with Ralph Fiennes leading as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, navigates a maze of political intrigue, spiritual conflict, and moral dilemmas within the Vatican's inner sanctuary. The film culminates in the election of Archbishop Vincent Benitez (Carlos Diehz) with a thunderous revelation: Benitez was born intersex.

In an interview with GQ, David Gibson, Director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University, addressed Conclave’s surprise ending. Gibson discussed the feasibility of an intersex pope and the broader implications of the film's ending, touching on the Church's evolving stance on gender and sexuality. Gibson remarked:

Yes, an intersex person could be elected pope, just as there have undoubtedly been gay men elected pope. It’s not clear what it would mean though, and I think that’s a real weakness in the film. Robert Harris, it seems, wanted to make a statement about gender and the Catholic Church, which is fine. But it is less a statement than a Rubik’s Cube.

Does the new pope identify as male or female? Does having characteristics of both sexes mean that they can’t be ordained, or become pope? Would such an election be invalid? These become angels-dancing-on-pinhead discussions that distract from the more important issues.

I was in Rome with a group of Fordham students in October for the global meeting of Catholic leaders, called a synod. During that time, Pope Francis met with a group of trans and intersex Catholics. It was a very powerful meeting. The pope’s affirmation of them as created by God with inherent dignity was extraordinarily moving. One of them, Nicole Santamaria, an intersex woman from El Salvador, wrote about her experience and to me, it’s a testimony more powerful than Conclave’s surprise ending.

What The Pope Expert's Response To Conclave’s Ending Means

How Conclave Reflects Real-World Challenges In The Church

Gibson’s comments highlight the evolving dynamics between faith, gender, and institutional doctrine as the Church chooses a new pope in Conclave. Currently, the Church does not recognize same-sex marriage and its religious doctrine condemns relationships outside of heterosexuality. However, under Pope Francis’s leadership, incremental progress has been made. In December 2023, he made an official decree that priests could bless same-sex couples. The Pope has also communed with queer folks from the Church, as Gibson noted, affirming them as God's creation while listening to their stirring testimonies that shed light on the intersection between faith and marginalized identities.

Berger's ending to Conclave offers an answer to Cardinal Lawrence's plea at the beginning of the film: "Let us pray that God grants us a pope who doubts.” Archbishop Benitez, now Pope Innocent, faces the call with grace, as someone who has come to thrive between certainty and doubt. The film’s twist has brought attention to the Church's ongoing deconstruction and reconstruction in its recognition of gender and sexual diversity as a human fact. While Conclave seeks to explore the tension between conservative and progressive ideals within the papal conclave, Gibson raises a question about whether this tension will continue to exist.

Our Take On The Pope Expert’s Response

Conclave Continues To Open Doors For Meaningful Conversations

Despite Gibson's gripes about the ending, Conclave continues to succeed in sparking important conversations about faith, identity, and institutional change, even if its ending invites more questions than answers. The film’s approach may not have satisfied every viewer, but it serves as a catalyst for meaningful discourse. With real-world shifts already occurring within the Church, Conclave encourages audiences to grapple with the nuanced realities of life and divinity in an ever-evolving world.

Source: GQ