The history of cinema rarely matches world events closely from the Academy Awards during award seasons.
Just as Catholics around the world pray for Pope Francis to recover from the health illness that left the 88-year-old clergyman in critical condition, “Conclave,” a fictional thriller about the process of choosing a new pope. The best photos from this Sunday’s Oscar ceremony.
“Conclave” stars Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini and Stanley Tucci, and explores the struggle and secrets of power between the cardinals who gather to choose the next leader of the Catholic Church. .
The film, which is run by Edward Berger, won the top prize at the 31st Screen Actor Guild Awards on Sunday and was nominated for eight Academy Awards.
Sergio Castellitto, from left, Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini and John Lithgow about “Conclave” at the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 23, 2025 He’s talking. (AP photo/Cris Pizzello)
“It’s incredible,” says Scott Manz, a Hollywood film critic and KTLA contributor. “The fact that the Pope’s health is failing is clearly scary news. But that’s what many people in the film industry, critics like me, say: Life actually imitates art. How crazy is it to be there?”
Pope Francis remained at risk on Monday, but showed slight improvements to clinical testing and resumed some work activities, the Vatican said. Still, discussions about the process of choosing his successor have been amplified since he was hospitalized with bronchitis on February 14th.
Could the timing of the Pope’s hospitalization affect the Academy Awards vote? The short answer is no for simple reasons.
“Oscar votes closed at 5pm last Tuesday so it’s not going to affect them at all,” Manz says. “Conclave has always been a front runner and is a safe movie that Oscar voters actually do, so they could win, especially in their hair, makeup and costume designs. Perhaps the best adapted script You’ll win. It intersects Oscar’s story with actual news.”
In 2009, “The Hurt Locker” won an Academy Award for the Army Bomb Disposal Team, as the United States was still plagued by the Iraq War.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
