Conclave, the heresy

I watched Conclave last night, and it troubled me so, that I must speak out.

The movie is well written with strong performances and great cinematography. The story line grabs and holds your attention.

The movie centers around Cardinal Lawrence who is charged with running the Conclave to elect the new Pope. He gives a sermon to all the Cardinals where he invokes some of Jesus' last words - My God, my God, why have you forsaken me - concluding that even Jesus had doubts - and "if there was only certainty and no doubt, there would be no mystery and therefore no need for faith."  What!!!

But this is what makes the movie dangerous. I am sure many people are nodding their heads and some applauding as Lawrence spoke. But Lawrence's speech is more of heresy than reasoned doctrine among learned men of the Church. The Catholic Church believes that Jesus was both God and man. So what exactly did Jesus have doubts about as He hung on the cross? His divinity? His existence? His plan to be savior of the world? To accept that Jesus had doubts means He was not divine. He was merely a man.

Many Catholics (as well as other Christian denominations) understand that Jesus, as he hung on the cross, is speaking to the Jews referencing Psalm 22, a Psalm of David. Jews would have been familiar with the Psalm. It foretells what the Messiah will have to endure, while reassuring the Jews that even in the darkest moments, God is there and God is in control. In those final moments on the cross, Jesus has certainty, not doubt, and there is immense Faith.

Keep in mind, Cardinal Lawrence who is the head of the Conclave is delivering these words to other Cardinals. And when Lawrence is told his sermon has caused a stir among the Cardinals, Lawrence responds: "For what, saying something meaningful?" But nonetheless, this misguided sermon becomes the centerpiece of the movie, parts of it being regurgitated to justify certain ideals. Christianity teaches the respect and dignity of every individual, not plurality and division of the Whole.

After a bombing that rocks the Conclave (although not clear if the bomber was targeting the proceedings), Cardinal Tedesco, who is one of the front runners for Pope, delivers a strongly worded speech. Cardinal Tedesco is the embodiment of those who are the conservative coalition of the Cardinals, particularly those who advocate for The Latin Mass. However, the speech is shallow and trite, devoid of Catholic doctrine. Its only purpose seems to be to diminish and ridicule the conservative coalition of the Church, but winds up telling us more about the writers than those they try to belittle.

Indeed, what is important to the Cardinal Lawrence and his Cardinal friends is to stop Cardinal Tedesco from becoming Pope. Liberalism is more important than the teachings of Jesus, saving souls or doing right in God's eyes. In one scene, Father Bellini, an outspoken liberal who wants to be Pope, states:  "If we liberals are not united, Tedesco will become Pope." He follows that statement warning Lawrence, "This is a war - and you have to choose a side!" Secret stairwell meetings follow to tally the score and discuss strategies on how to achieve the end. Ironically, Bellini withdraws his candidacy for Pope when Lawrence leaks information to discredit another candidate.

In the end, when an unknown Cardinal responds to Cardinal Tedesco's speech, and based solely on that response, he is made Pope. God help us! But somehow it seems to be a fitting end for a movie that is shallow in theology, mistaking politics for dogma.