'Conclave' has a shocking ending for our time

Spoiler alert! This story details the shocking twist at the Papal “Conclave,” so turn away if you plan to see the film first.

“Conclave” is less a film about the Catholic Church then it’s a tense procedural in the vein of legendary tick-tock epics — think “All the President’s Men,” about the 1972 Watergate burglary and cover-up — long admired by its director, Edward Berger.

But “Conclave” differs in one important way: The shocking ending, reminiscent of the 2016 Robert Harris thriller on which it is based. For anyone who’s a fan of the 1992 crime thriller “The Crying Game,” the discovery near the end of the film left moviegoers gasping, at least at a festival screening a few weeks ago.

Despite the out-of-left-field ending of “Conclave,” Berger says the big reveal is not intended to be the centerpiece of the film.

“You certainly don’t want to spoil things for people, but whether or not that (ending) is a secret is not that important,” he tells USA TODAY. “The movie isn’t about that revelation, because every character has their twists and surprises.”

What is the setup for the ending of ‘Conclave’?

In the film and the book, the more than 200 college of cardinals met in the Vatican after the death of the pope to choose his successor. The process is called a conclave and is steeped in ritual and tradition.

As voting begins in the solemn Sistine Chapel, a number of high-profile cardinals are vying to be the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, some of whom are making very clear cases for themselves, including Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) and Cardinal Adeyemi. Lucian Msamati). One cardinal who doesn’t want the post is Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), dean of the College of Cardinals, despite encouragement from Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci).

Who is Cardinal Benitez in ‘Conclave’?

The wild card that ultimately turns the conclave upside down is the mysterious and contemplative Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz), who arrives late to the proceedings. Although he appears to be from Latin America, Benitez explains to his fellow cardinals that he has been sent, apparently by the Pope himself, to a number of remote and generally dangerous places. Most recently he targeted Catholics in Afghanistan.

Benitez repeatedly votes for Lawrence, who shares his growing anger at this gesture, given his own questions about faith and his desire to perhaps even leave the church. But Benitez persists, explaining that Lawrence has the virtues needed to lead the faithful, unlike some of their fellow cardinals who appear to want the job because of his power and status.

Why does Cardinal Lawrence investigate Cardinal Benitez in ‘Conclave’?

Cardinal Benitez will be overseen by Cardinal Lawrence, who will lead the conclave. Lawrence is puzzled by unearthed documents suggesting the late Pope had approved Benitez’s trip from Afghanistan to Switzerland for a medical procedure.

This fact emerges after a series of literal and philosophical explosions rock the cardinals, who days after the conclave finally and overwhelmingly elect their new leader: Cardinal Benitez. Lawrence is happy with the outcome, but worries that the medical trip may indicate that the newly elected Pope is ill and will not last long. He secretly urges his direct reports to delve into the details of that trip.

What is the shocking ending of ‘Conclave’?

If you’ve made it this far and still haven’t seen the movie, you’re obviously going to want to know what happens at the end of “Conclave.” So be it.

Lawrence interrupts Benitez’s preparations to be announced as the new Pope, demanding to be told why Benitez was given a trip to Switzerland even though he never made the trip. Lawrence thinks Benitez may have a terminal illness, but instead he is told the procedure would have removed his uterus. Benitez does intersexualwith reproductive parts that do not meet the traditional definition of male or female.

“What are you?” Laurens asks.

Benitez smiles and replies, “I am who God made me.”