Pope Benedict’s demise marks a significant turn in the global history of the Catholic Church. Some referred to the death as concluding an interesting era in the modern Church where two popes, vastly different, coexisted—one resigned and the other in power, one conservative and the other liberal—in the tiny confines of the Vatican. The historical significance of this period is best portrayed through the film The Two Popes, a 2019 biographical drama film directed by Fernando Meirelles. The film stars Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce as Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, respectively, and depicts the relationship between the two men as Benedict prepares to step down as Pope and the events leading up to the 2013 papal conclave, at which Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as Pope. The Two Popes isn’t just a history lesson about the power of diplomacy within a church; it is a thought-provoking display of mercy, acceptance, and friendship. Its deliberate portrayal of two men who couldn’t be more different, yet found a middle ground to help move the Church forward, is fascinating and heartfelt. Throughout the film, they engage in private conversations in which they discuss their differing views on the Church and its future, but ultimately come to an understanding and a mutual respect for one another’s perspectives. The film emphasizes the importance of dialogue and understanding in resolving differences and finding common ground. In real life too it was moving to see how Pope Francis showed respect and affection for his predecessor and how Pope Benedict gracefully inhabited the role of ‘emeritus.’
Pushpa Joseph
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