Conclave is the new feature film thriller based upon the 2016 Robert Harris novel of the same name.

The plot is simple: The Roman Catholic Pope (perfectly played by Bruno Novelli who is only listed in the credits as: “Dead Pope”) dies of a heart attack. Hence the process, personalities and intrigues surrounding electing a new Pope comprise the film.

In the main, I found the film very visually appealing, the script well written and the execution well-acted. I enjoyed it a lot. Until.

To set the scene, Ralph Fiennes (Cardinal Lawrence) is the Dean of the Cardinals who will have to pilot the college through its electoral process. He is a deeply sensitive man, who tries to live by wisdom and decorum, and who is also suffering a non-defined crisis of faith. Something to do with prayer. He is a traditionalist who nevertheless has hopes for a more progressive Church.

The main players vying to be the new Pope number 4.

Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci) is very progressive and is wanting wider tolerance if not downright acceptance of other religions; greater roles for women in the Church and softening regarding LGBTQ+ stances.

Cardinal Tremblay (Jonathan Lithgow) has little or no articulated polices, but proves to be a power monger buying off other cardinals for votes (the sin of Simony) and submarining the candidacy of another Cardinal by resurrecting a 30 year old sexual indiscretion.

Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) is the hard core traditionalist – who wants war against the Muslims, a return to the Latin mass and (in the eyes of Lawrence and Bellini) wants to push the Church back into the Middle ages. A decidedly crude and unlikeable character.

Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucien Msamati) the candidate from Africa (yes, there are discriminatory undertones from several Cardinals) whose campaign is derailed by Trembly’s exposure of his sexual dalliance. He has a notably anti-gay stance.

And so the infighting and politicking begin. Fun! Lot’s of spicy stuff while Lawrence tries to juggle it all.

Side note: Isabella Rossellini (Sister Agnes) is always worth watching on the screen.

But! There is a sudden new wrinkle. Just as this is all to begin, a new, previously unknown Cardinal arrives: Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz). He is originally from Mexico but is currently serving in Kabul Afghanistan. He has served in other war torn and difficult posts. His appointment was kept secret by the recently deceased Pontiff for safety reasons.

When all is said and done, after a suicide bomber attack interrupts numerous rounds of balloting, the elimination of Trembly and Adeyemi – and a tirade by Tedesco regarding going to war with the Muslims – the lone voice of peace and wisdom brings all to a halt. Benitez emerges as the calm, cool, angel of sanity, compromise and as one might imagine, unifying the majority, is elected Pope.

All is well.

Until Lawrence discovers that Benitez is in fact a biological woman – intersexed, who at one point (with the blessing and funding of the dead Pope) had previously been on his/her way to have a laparoscopic hysterectomy but decided to remain as God made her.

The movie ends with Lawrence opening the window to his apartment, and now at last the light is shining in. We have the new enlightened era.

In short, we have a finely crafted piece of LGBTQ+ propaganda. A polemic. Period. Perhaps the original author’s premise was simply a giant “what if?” But in execution, it is an argument – for. The sanest, most reasonable, best possible candidate to be the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church is one who is sexually confused and deceptive to the highest degree.

Now beyond that – if that element were not even present, we would also have this which would remain true.

What we have in the entire portrayal, is a “Church” which has no regard for the authority of Scripture, but instead finds its only moorings in beautiful, wonderfully and meticulously artful tradition. Nothing more. Utterly devoid of anything having to do with Gospel of Jesus Christ. Empty form and fashion – however attractive and august in performance.

Consider.