When Sacred Doubt Leads to Grace: CONCLAVE debuts!

 

In our world of instant news and constant noise, there is something profoundly moving about witnessing one of the world’s most ancient and secretive rituals — the selection of a new Pope.

The new film CONCLAVE (in theaters tomorrow, October 25th) invites us into this sacred space through the eyes of Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), a man who, like many of us, carries a profound spiritual restlessness. As director Edward Berger reveals in the film’s notes, Lawrence had actually sought permission to leave Rome for a monastery to rediscover his faith, but was denied by the Pope before his unexpected death. Now, this doubting servant must guide the very institution he wished to retreat from.

What makes this story so compelling is how it mirrors our own spiritual journeys — those moments when we are called to serve precisely when we feel least worthy or certain. Through the stunning cinematography of the recreated Sistine Chapel (painstakingly restored at Rome’s legendary Cinecittà studios) and the quiet power of Isabella Rossellini as Sister Agnes (who reminds us that “God has nevertheless given us eyes and ears”), we witness a profound meditation on faith, power, and institutional change.
As both Ralph Fiennes and Berger have noted, CONCLAVE is not simply a political thriller, but a story about rediscovering purpose and faith in the midst of profound change. The film asks us, just as it asks Lawrence:
  • How can we still believe in our institutions?
  • How can we believe in the future?
  • How do we regain our sense of purpose?

In this time of great changes in our spiritual communities and world, CONCLAVE offers what Berger calls “a moment of reflection for anyone thinking of reinventing their life, of finding a new purpose or renewing an old one.” Through Lawrence’s journey, we witness a man of conscience discovering that sometimes our deepest uncertainties can be doorways to grace – and perhaps, as the film suggests, to revolutionary new possibilities for the future of faith itself.

CONCLAVE is out tomorrow, October 25th. If you want to be stirred, and encourage more movies like this being made, I encourage you to watch it – today or this weekend, as opening weekend box office traffic means a lot. You can check for your local show locations and times here.

And for my less reverent take on this new release, watch this:

That’s the Reel on my YouTube. : ) If you prefer, you can watch it on my:

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See you at the movies!
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