The film "Conclave"

 

We went to see "Conclave" (the film) this afternoon. I had read Robert Harris's novel and was expecting a kind of fashionably-liberal attack on Catholicism but was pleasantly surprised. Stereotypes and cheap shots were not much in evidence and the characterisations and 'political positions' of the various papal candidates seemed plausible.

It's refreshing to see a film which is adult enough to differentiate between the mission of the Church and its all-too-fallible leadership.

We know by the ending of the film (as in the book) where its true feelings lie, and it's hard to disagree. When "Love thine Enemy" comes into conflict with "Smite thine Enemy" we surely have a suspicion where the New Testament stands.

And yet: Jesus had in mind the imminence of the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven, facilitated by the expression of universal empathy and acceptance. However: if you will the means you have to will the ends: loving your enemy when he doesn't love you is a quick trip to martyrdom - and at a community level - extinction. Perhaps that doesn't matter if the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand but most people - most Catholics - would fight back under those circumstances.

We do now know in wonderfully vivid detail how the Conclave works.