I watched the Best Picture nominated film Conclave today. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The conclave is the process by which cardinals of the Catholic Church appoint a new pope after one has either died or resigned. It’s essentially rounds of voting that continue until a cardinal has a majority. The factions that form around the leading cardinals and how their support waxes and wanes over days is fascinating.
Ralph Fiennes is excellent as the Dean of the College of Cardinals, and following him as he runs the conclave is a unique—albeit dramatised—insight into a very secretive process.