Is the movie "Conclave" about Pope Francis? Ralph Fiennes-starrer trends on X after pope's death

The 2024 political thriller, Conclave, is trending on X after the news of incumbent Pope Francis’ death broke out.

Coincidentally, the Ralph Fiennes-starrer’s in-universe setting depicts the aftermath of the supreme pontiff’s death. The award-winning movie is based on Robert Harris's eponymous novel, which came out in 2016.

However, neither the book nor its film adaptation mentions Pope Francis, as both follow the death of a fictional pope and the subsequent papal conclave organized by the dean of the College of Cardinals.

In the film, Ralph Fiennes portrays the dean, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, instead of Cardinal Jacopo Baldassare Lomeli (from the novel). The core plot of the book and the movie is the same, but the makers altered many characters in their adaptation. The film was well-received by the critics and even claimed “Best Adapted Screenplay” at the 97th Oscars.

Due to the parallels between the film’s plot and the real-life event of Pope Francis’ passing, many on X displayed their curiosity in revisiting Conclave. Sharing a short clip from the 2024 film, a user wrote:

“Now, I have to rewatch Conclave.”

Read on to learn what others posted while trending the Ralph Fiennes starrer on X.

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Internet users remember Conclave (2024) after Pope Francis dies at 88

The news of the pope’s death garnered plenty of reactions on X, with Conclave fans drawing parallels between the real-life and fictional events:

“If you haven't watched Conclave (2024) dir. Edward Berger, now is the perfect time, literally,” a user suggested.

“Conclave today right??,” another user wrote while posting an image and GIF from the film.

“For anyone who hasn’t seen Conclave yet, now’s your chance to see the real thing,” someone referenced the forthcoming papal conclave.

A user posted a GIF of Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Fiennes) and wrote:

“Me and oomfs rewatching conclave tonight”

Another user posted the “interested Lenny Leonard” meme from The Simpsons to express their anticipation for the papal conclave:

“News: Pope Francis has died, the Vatican says // Conclave Fans: [Lenny Leonard meme]”

Someone shared a picture of a jacked Ralph Fiennes and noted:

“He’s been training for today. Conclave 2: More Mass”

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Pope Francis, an Argentine originally named Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was made a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II, who passed away four years later. In the 2005 papal conclave, which elected Pope Benedict XVI as the next sovereign pontiff, then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was a cardinal elector.

After Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation in 2013, Bergoglio was elected as the next sovereign pontiff and chose his name after Saint Francis of Assisi. In February 2025, the Vatican reported that the pope was hospitalized for bronchitis. At the time, Conclave’s cast won the “Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture” accolade at the SAG Awards.

After the win, Isabella Rossellini expressed her concern for the pope and said (via The Wrap):

“We [the Conclave team] are very, very worried for our pope. We love this pope —Papa Francesco, Pope Francis. We wish him well. We wish him to recover.”

Two months later, Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced via Vatican News that Pope Francis passed away at 88 at his residence, Domus Sanctae Marthae. Hours before his demise, the pope met US Vice President JD Vance. Donald Trump’s deputy sent his condolences on X after learning the news:

“I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul.”

Like Vance, many others paid tributes to the late supreme pontiff on X and other platforms.