How To Stream ‘Conclave’—As Vatican Prepares To Elect New Pope

Topline

“Conclave,” the Oscar-winning drama film about the secretive process of electing a new pope, is now available to stream just one day after Pope Francis died at age 88, which will trigger a sequence of events like those depicted in the film as cardinals choose a new leader for the Catholic Church.

“Conclave” stars Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini and Stanley Tucci. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty … More Images for BFI)

Getty Images for BFI

Key Facts

“Conclave” (2024) is now available to stream on Prime Video for members with a subscription.

The movie stars Ralph Fiennes as the dean of the College of Cardinals, who is tasked with assembling a conclave to select a new pope once the incumbent dies or resigns.

Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati and Carlos Diehz star as cardinals who vie for election to the papacy, all of whom hail from different countries with conflicting ideological views on the Church, a process likely to be mirrored once the conclave assembles to elect Francis’ successor.

“Conclave” is an adaptation of Robert Harris’s 2016 novel.

Where Is “conclave” Available To Stream?

In addition to streaming for free on Prime Video for subscribing members, “Conclave” is also available to rent for $5.99 on various platforms, including Prime Video, YouTube and Apple TV.

How Many Oscars Did “conclave” Win?

“Conclave” won one Academy Award in March for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film was also nominated for seven other awards, including Best Picture, as well as Best Actor for Fiennes and Best Supporting Actress for Isabella Rossellini. At the British Academy Film Awards, the United Kingdom’s equivalent to the Oscars, “Conclave” won Best Film, the evening’s top award.

What Did Critics Say About “conclave?”

Critics raved about “Conclave,” which has a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Variety’s critic Peter Debruge labeled the movie a “critics pick,” praising its thriller elements and the “war of words between the liberal and conservative factions of the church.” Boston Globe critic Odie Henderson likened the movie to an “Agatha Christie mystery set in the Vatican,” praising the movie’s twists and surprises and the “first-rate” acting.

Who Are The Leading Candidates To Succeed Pope Francis?

Vatican experts say there is no single frontrunner to succeed Francis. James Somerville-Meikle, former deputy director of the Catholic Union of Great Britain, told NBC News “nobody really knows” who will win the election because the conclave is such a “unique electorate,” adding that many conclaves in the past have produced surprise winners. Some cardinals considered possible candidates include Canada’s Marc Ouellet, 80, a conservative-leaning cardinal who was also considered a leading candidate in 2013, as well as Luis Tagle of the Philippines, 67, a cardinal often likened to Francis for championing the poor, who could become the first Asian pope. Cardinals Pietro Parolin and Matteo Zuppi, both of Italy, are also considered possible candidates, as well as several cardinals from Africa, including Guinea’s Robert Sarah and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Fridolin Ambongo.

How Does A Conclave Work?

Cardinals will seclude themselves inside the Sistine Chapel about 15 days following the death of a pope and will cast secret ballots until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority of the votes. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. Once the votes are counted, they are burned and smoke is released from the chapel—black smoke indicates no cardinal has won the papal election, while white smoke signifies a new pope has been chosen.

Key Background

Francis died Monday at age 88 after battling health issues for years, which had worsened in recent months and led to his longest hospitalization while pope. The Vatican said Francis died of a cerebral stroke and irreversible heart failure. Francis led the Catholic Church for 12 years and was renowned by liberal Catholics but controversial among conservatives for his push to make the Church more inclusive, particularly his efforts to make it welcoming for LGBTQ Catholics and immigrants.