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“Conclave” and the Timeless Tensions of Power, Faith, and Intrigue in the Catholic Church

With the release of Conclave, a gripping film adaptation of Robert Harris's acclaimed novel, director Edward Berger brings audiences into the closed world of the Vatican's most secretive and powerful ritual. Known for his meticulous direction in All Quiet on the Western Front, Berger adeptly transforms Harris's narrative of secrecy and power struggles into a visceral experience where words become potent weapons, and where something as seemingly benign as the cardinals' seating arrangements becomes charged with strategic intent. Conclave explores more than just religious rites; it reveals the Church’s centuries-old tensions, bringing light to the layers of mystery, authority, and ambition that lie beneath its solemn exterior.

The Catholic Church’s role in historical and contemporary society has provided fertile ground for storytelling, with narratives full of mystery, ambition, and betrayal. The Church’s centuries-long saga has seen heights of influence and prestige, punctuated by pivotal struggles, such as those against the Holy Roman Empire, which by 1250, seemed firmly under papal control. But as swiftly as power was gained, it could be just as easily lost.

The Catholic Church is an institution like no other. Its roots trace back over two millennia, evolving through moments of triumph and tragedy. Its influence has shaped not only Western civilization but also the world’s moral, political, and social landscapes. While many films about the Church have been released, few manage to capture both the reverence and the controversy surrounding it. Often, these films struggle to balance an authentic portrayal with criticism. But with Conclave, Berger offers a more nuanced narrative, peeling back the veil on the Church’s complex legacy, its fascinating blend of authority and vulnerability, and its humanity.

The Church’s Historical Influence:

A Well of Power and Intrigue

The Catholic Church, at its peak, was a beacon of spiritual guidance and political authority. By the 13th century, the papacy had gained near-total control over much of Europe, representing not just the religious head of Christianity but also a formidable political power. The balance it maintained was delicate, and its authority faced many challenges, often from within as well as from external forces.

In 1250, the Church seemed firmly entrenched as the unrivalled spiritual and political institution in Europe. After nearly two centuries of fierce contestation, the popes had finally broken the Holy Roman Empire's hold, solidifying their place at the apex of European power. However, history has shown that with great power comes an even greater vulnerability, as was made evident when the papacy soon faced challenges that would shake its foundations.

The Clash of Kings and Popes:

Boniface VIII and the Limits of Papal Authority

The first major challenge to the Church's authority came in 1294, with Pope Boniface VIII ascending to the papal throne. A man of ambition, Boniface believed in the absolute power of the papacy, asserting that earthly authorities, including kings, were subordinate to the pope. However, this claim was soon put to the test by a powerful adversary: King Philip IV of France.

The conflict erupted over Philip’s decision to tax French clergy, an action Boniface condemned as an affront to the Church’s authority. Boniface, who saw himself as the rightful earthly leader under God, issued a decree, Unam Sanctam, in 1302, a document that went so far as to assert that resistance to papal authority could jeopardize one’s soul. Philip IV was not one to bow to such threats. Instead, he arranged for Boniface's kidnapping by mercenaries, a brazen move that resulted in the pope's mistreatment. Though he was later freed, the ordeal led to Boniface's death, marking the first major public humiliation for the papacy.

This event had profound repercussions, signaling a shift in how the papacy was perceived both within and outside the Church. The once unassailable aura of papal authority was shaken, exposing the pope’s vulnerability to secular powers. This was not merely a theological debate; it was a moment when political reality intruded on spiritual authority, setting the stage for more fractures in the Church’s dominion.

The Avignon Papacy and the “Babylonian Captivity”

In response to the growing tensions between the French monarchy and the papacy, the College of Cardinals took an unusual step in 1305, electing Clement V, a Frenchman, as pope. Clement chose not to take residence in Rome, instead establishing the papal court in Avignon, a city close to the French border but within papal territory. This move marked the beginning of what later became known as the Avignon Papacy, a 70-year period often referred to as the “Babylonian Captivity” of the Church.

The Italian poet Petrarch coined the term "Babylonian Captivity," likening the Church’s relocation to the Old Testament story of the Israelites held captive in Babylon. This metaphor struck a chord with many, reflecting the sentiment that the Church was no longer independent but under the sway of the French monarchy. The Avignon Papacy symbolized a period when papal authority seemed compromised, its independence questioned, and its loyalty challenged by national politics. For almost seven decades, the papacy remained in Avignon, removed from the symbolic heart of Christendom: Rome. This era left a profound stain on the Church’s image, as people began to see the pope less as a universal leader of the faith and more as a political figure, influenced by France’s interests.

The Great Schism:

Multiple Popes and a Divided Christendom

By 1377, the papacy returned to Rome under Pope Gregory XI, but this did not bring stability. Following Gregory’s death, an election ensued, rife with pressures from a Roman mob desperate to ensure the new pope would be Italian. The chosen pope, Urban VI, soon proved erratic and tyrannical, prompting some cardinals to flee Rome and elect a second pope, Clement VII, who established his own papal court in Avignon. Thus began the Great Schism, a period from 1378 to 1417 where two rival popes ruled, each claiming to be the true representative of Christ on Earth.

The schism fractured the Church, with regions and clergy aligning themselves with either the Roman pope or the Avignon pope. Attempts to resolve the divide only deepened it. In 1409, the Council of Pisa attempted to depose both popes and appoint a new one, resulting in three competing popes. The division sowed confusion and distrust among the faithful, eroding the Church’s unity and authority.

It wasn’t until the Council of Constance (1415–1417) that the schism was resolved. The council deposed all three popes and appointed a new pope, Martin V, as the sole leader of the Church. Although the Council of Constance succeeded in reuniting the Church under a single pope, the damage was irreversible. The schism had left a permanent scar on the papacy's prestige, and the aura of invincibility that had once cloaked the Church was forever altered.

Dante’s Divine Comedy:

A Moral Lens on the Church’s Failures

Dante Alighieri, a poet deeply concerned with the moral and spiritual integrity of the Church, immortalized its failings in his Divine Comedy. In his vision of the afterlife, Dante placed several notorious popes in hell, illustrating the dangers of corruption, ambition, and the abuse of spiritual authority. Notably, Dante cast Pope Boniface VIII in the Inferno, condemning him for simony, the practice of buying and selling ecclesiastical privileges, which Dante viewed as a betrayal of spiritual purity.

Dante’s poetic judgments were a direct reflection of the public’s disillusionment with the Church. He presented popes as flawed men whose desire for power often eclipsed their spiritual responsibilities. Through this depiction, Dante amplified the call for reform and integrity within the Church, showing that even those in the highest echelons were not immune to sin.

The Continuing Legacy of Power and Redemption in the Church

The Catholic Church’s struggles with power and purity have continued through the centuries, often serving as cautionary tales. The 15th-century popes grappled with the remnants of the schism’s fallout, seeking to rebuild the Church’s tarnished image. Many popes of the Renaissance turned to artistic patronage as a means of restoring glory, commissioning works by artists like Michelangelo and Raphael to elevate the Church’s cultural and spiritual prestige. Yet, as history shows, the institution has often remained entangled in worldly conflicts.

Modern audiences, watching Conclave, may draw parallels between the Church’s historical struggles and contemporary challenges. Questions of authority, morality, and the responsibilities of leadership are as relevant today as they were in the time of Boniface VIII or the Great Schism. By illuminating the personal struggles within the cardinals’ secretive gatherings, Conclave taps into the timeless tension between divine calling and human ambition.

Conclusion: The Church as a Stage for Human Drama

In Conclave, Edward Berger’s cinematic lens captures the Church not merely as a religious institution but as a stage for profound human drama. The film invites viewers to witness the complex interplay of faith and power, reminding us that the stories of the Catholic Church are not solely about doctrines or rituals. They are about people—flawed, ambitious, and searching for purpose within an institution that has shaped history.

The enduring appeal of narratives surrounding the Church lies in their exploration of the eternal struggles between faith and ambition, purity and corruption, spiritual ideals and human frailties. Through its layered history, the Catholic Church has not only guided millions in faith but has also served as a mirror to human nature itself. In revisiting the Church’s history and in watching films like Conclave, we are reminded that the stories of faith are often interwoven with the very real, very human quest for power, a quest that continues to captivate and resonate, drawing us deeper into the heart of an institution that has withstood the tests of time...