Conclave is a drama about the election of a new Pope after the sudden death of the previous Holy Father. The movie follows Cardinal Lawrence as he manages the secret voting process and uncovers scandals among the leading candidates. Woke elements are highly visible in the film's climax, which reveals that the newly elected Pope is biologically intersex. The story also portrays traditional religious views as outdated and presents progressive reforms as the only path forward.
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Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Conclave.
Woke representation / casting
The film features a highly diverse cast of cardinals from around the world. It casts Carlos Diehz as Cardinal Benitez, a Mexican bishop who is ultimately revealed as intersex. Traditional roles of white, European church leaders are put aside to highlight global diversity and gender identity representation.
30%
Woke political dialogue
The dialogue features strong political statements. Cardinal Lawrence gives a major speech declaring that certainty is the enemy of tolerance and unity. At the end, Cardinal Benitez defends his intersex identity by saying, "I am what God made me," which sounds like modern gender-identity slogans.
65%
Identity-driven story themes
The plot centers on progressivism versus conservative tradition. This theme leads directly to the final twist where an intersex person becomes Pope. The movie adds a strong LGBTQ+ and gender-identity message to the climax, framing this reveal as a divine and progressive triumph.
80%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The movie critiques the Catholic Church as a flawed, male-dominated institution. It portrays traditionalist leaders as angry, racist, and corrupt, while progressive leaders are the heroes. It also highlights the low status of nuns as an outdated injustice that needs to change.
75%
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant. The movie is a faithful adaptation of the 2016 novel by Robert Harris, which featured the exact same intersex plot twist. No real historical figures or established fictional characters were changed for ideological reasons.
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
The movie faced heavy backlash from conservative and religious groups. Critics like Megyn Kelly called the film "disgusting anti-Catholic" propaganda, and church leaders warned followers to avoid it because they believed it pushed woke gender theory.
75%
Creator track record context
The main creative team, including director Edward Berger and writer Robert Harris, have mostly neutral, non-activist careers. A few producers and the casting director have supported progressive causes, but the overall score for the team remains very low.
18%
Production
