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When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world's most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.. This is Carlos Diehz's first major film appearance. He was an architect until 2020, when his last child left home and he decided to take online acting classes and go to auditions.. It is stated that Adeyemi would be the first African Pope. The Roman Catholic Church has had three African Popes: Victor The First (189-199 CE), Miltiades (also known as Melchiades, 311-314 CE), and Gelasius The First (492-496 CE). It is however likely that he means ethnically African pope, as those three popes while born in Africa were all of European ethnic descent.. Lawrence: Our faith is a living thing precisely because it walks hand-in-hand with doubt. If there was only certainty and no doubt, there would be no mystery. And therefore no need for faith. Let us pray that God will grant us a Pope who doubts. And let him grant us a Pope who sins and asks for forgiveness and who carries on.. Featured in The 7PM Project: Episode dated 10 December 2024 (2024). Allegri: MisererePerformed by Capella Musicale Pontificia Sistina, Massimo PalombellaCourtesy of Deutsche Grammophon GMBHUnder license from Universal Music Operations Ltd. Greetings again from the darkness. It feels like it's been a while since we had a good old fashioned serious-minded, tension-packed, "big" drama movies featuring big movie stars. Well, that's exactly what director Edward Berger, fresh off his Oscar-winning ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (2022), serves up with his latest. Writer Peter Straughan (TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, 2011) has adapted the 2016 Robert Harris novel, and the result is a welcome crowd-pleaser that may garner some Oscar consideration.Ralph Fiennes delivers what may be his best performance yet. And that's saying something for the much-respected actor who has previously excelled in such films as SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993), THE CONSTANT GARDNER (2005), IN BRUGES (2008), A BIGGER SPLASH (2018 ), and THE MENU (2022). His impressive career is only enhanced by this most recent role of Cardinal Lawrence, saddled with the heavy burden of facilitating the titular Conclave charged with electing the new Pope. As the film opens, the beloved Pope has just passed … and as they say, "let the games begin". Of course, these games are all about political maneuverings and power struggles and backroom promises. Director Berger opts to show us very little of the actual negotiations, and instead puts the various iterations of loyalty on display during each successive secret (of course) vote.Within the confined walls of Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel, Cardinal Lawrence' s time is mostly spent investigating tips, scolding others for their behavior, and dealing with the immense egos of the few being considered (including himself). Stanley Tucci plays Cardinal Bellini, who pretends not to want the job while campaigning as the 'progressive' voice the church needs now. John Lithgow is Cardinal Tremblay, one of the most assertively ambitious who may or may not have purposefully undermined the work of another. Either way, Lucian Msmuati's Cardinal Adivemi is the victim of Tremblay's actions. Cardinal Tedesco, portrayed by Sergio Castellitto, is the most outspoken in his desire to return the church to the old ways (Latin masses forever!), what he sees as proper. Bryan F O'Byrne plays O'Malley, assistant to Lawrence, and yet, despite all of these men, it's Isabella Rossellini as Sister Agnes who manages to shoot (figurative) fire from her eyes, while maintaining her 'place' and significantly impacting the process. She is stunning and memorable in her limited role.