Truth in Love: A Review of Conclave (2024)
“The old pope is dead. The world waits. Behind locked doors, truth wrestles with power, and love demands its reckoning.”
The 2024 political-religious thriller Conclave, adapted from Robert Harris’s bestselling novel, is a masterclass in suspenseful storytelling rooted in the sacred halls of the Vatican. Directed with solemn precision and visual restraint, the film opens with a void—the Pope has died, and the world is bracing for who will rise next. But what begins as a procedural drama soon unfolds into a gripping narrative about faith, order, secrets, and ultimately, the cost of truth.
The Weight of the Chair
Set almost entirely within the Vatican, Conclave follows Cardinal Lomeli, a man torn between duty and conscience, as he oversees the election of the new pope. The Sistine Chapel becomes a stage for ambition and humility to collide. Power is not just inherited—it is contended for, veiled in incense and centuries of tradition. What seems orderly on the outside is soon revealed to be fragile, human, and painfully real.
A Church at a Crossroads
What’s new in this post-papal moment is the tension between modern transparency and ancient secrecy. As Europe and the global Church look toward progress, the cardinals inside confront buried truths that could fracture the foundation they claim to uphold. There is a subtle, simmering clash between those who believe the Church must evolve—and those clinging tightly to its hierarchical past.
The film’s title, Conclave, suggests both enclosure and revelation. While the process is cloistered, the emotions and moral dilemmas are anything but. At its core, this is a story about the burden of leadership and the call to love truthfully, even when the truth may destroy legacies.
Performances that Pierce
The ensemble cast delivers quiet but powerful performances, especially the actor portraying Cardinal Lomeli. His portrayal is one of restraint, internal conflict, and compassion—a man of God asked to navigate a political storm while staying true to the gospel he preaches.
Each cardinal represents not just a vote, but a philosophy, a worldview. These aren’t caricatures of old men in robes; they are deeply complex leaders wrestling with change, guilt, and legacy.
Truth in Love
As the new pope emerges, Conclave does not offer easy resolutions. Instead, it leaves viewers with questions—about the price of truth, the meaning of humility, and whether real love within the Church looks like silence or confrontation.
“Truth in love” becomes more than a theme—it’s a challenge. In a world hungry for authenticity, the film dares to suggest that divine order may only come when we stop hiding behind it.
You can watch Conclave (2024) through various streaming platforms:
Amazon Prime Video: Available for streaming with a Prime membership. Non-members can rent it for $5.99 or purchase for $19.99. Amazon
Apple TV: Available for rent at $5.99 or purchase at $19.99. Apple TV
Other Platforms: Also available for rent or purchase on YouTube, Google Play, Fandango at Home, and ROW8.