Italy

Who might take up the mantle as the next leader of the Catholic Church? The answer carries deep significance for over 1.4 billion baptised Catholics worldwide. The selection process is unpredictable and open-ended, shaped by a mixture of traditions, shifting church demographics, and modern challenges. Cardinals from around the globe will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the secretive conclave, repeatedly voting until a consensus emerges around a single candidate. With 80% of those voting having

Faith, Death, and Drama: An Interview on the Film "Conclave" Faith, mortality, and vengeful vaping: among this year’s Oscar hopefuls, Conclave shines as the one that masterfully blends probing religious themes with a touch of theatrical side-eye. Based on Robert Harris’s novel, screenwriter Peter Straughan, known for Wolf Hall, collaborates with Edward Berger of All Quiet on the Western Front fame to direct this power-driven tale of faith, politics, and human frailty. Ralph Fiennes