‘Conclave’ Now Streaming on Prime Video as Real Catholic Church Prepares to Elect New Pope

In a feat of remarkable timing, you can now stream an excellent fictional story about the election of a new pope as the Vatican prepares to choose its new leader in real life. “Conclave” was one of the best movies of 2024 — it was nominated for 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. You can watch “Conclave” for free with a trial of Prime Video.

What is ‘Conclave’ About?

The film begins with the death of the pope. Now it’s up to Thomas Lawrence (an excellent Ralph Fiennes), dean of the College of Cardinals, to lead the process to elect a new leader.

Cardinals jockey for power while sharing their differing views on whether the church should become more progressive or conservative. Lurking in the background is Sister Agnes (Isabella Rossellini), who subtly steers the focus as candidates are eliminated.

Cardinal Lawrence agonizes over which candidate to support, even as his friends urge him to fight for the papacy. We discover every candidate has a secret, and the votes shift as scandals come to light.

I won’t spoil what happens, but there are twists and turns you won’t see coming. By the time it ends, we’ve been treated to an exploration of what it means to be human, even while focusing on the eternal.

Who Stars in ‘Conclave’?

• Ralph Fiennes is Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, the leader of the quest to find a worthy new pope.
• Stanley Tucci is Cardinal Aldo Bellini, a liberal priest and a reluctant candidate.
• John Lithgow is Cardinal Joseph Tremblay, a moderate priest who might be the right man for the job.
• Isabella Rossellini is Sister Agnes, the cardinals’ head caterer and housekeeper with a keen eye.
• Lucian Msamati is Cardinal Joshua Adeyemi, a popular Nigerian candidate with conservative social views
• Brían F. O’Byrne is Monsignor Raymond O’Malley, Lawrence’s assistant and opposition researcher
• Carlos Diehz is Cardinal Vincent Benitez, a little-known Mexican archbishop working in Afghanistan
• Sergio Castellitto is Cardinal Goffredo Tedesco, an Italian traditionalist with a strong following

Should You Watch ‘Conclave’?

Yes! It was my favorite film of 2024. The performances, script, and sets are all wonderful. Even if you’re not Catholic, you’ll enjoy a well-crafted story about flawed people balancing ambition and faith. It has wonderful cinematography and a great dose of humor.

As the world remembers Pope Francis and looks ahead to the next chapter for the church, “Conclave” gives us a little taste of what’s actually happening in the Vatican today.