The 2024 film Conclave, directed by Edward Berger, stands as one of the most compelling political thrillers of recent years. Based on the 2016 bestselling novel by Robert Harris, the film delves into the centuries-old, highly secretive process of electing a new Pope. While the ritualistic grandeur of the Vatican provides a stunning backdrop, the film's true power lies in its impeccable ensemble cast. Leading the production are Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini—a group of veteran actors who transform a series of ecclesiastical debates into a high-stakes psychological battlefield.

In this film, the College of Cardinals convenes behind locked doors following the sudden death of a beloved Pope. As the world watches from outside St. Peter's Square, the men inside engage in a tactical struggle for the future of the Catholic Church. The casting choices were pivotal in conveying the gravity, ambition, and frailty of these characters, ensuring that the audience feels every ounce of tension within the Sistine Chapel.

The Central Protagonist: Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence

At the heart of Conclave is Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, portrayed with profound nuance by Ralph Fiennes. Lawrence serves as the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the man tasked with overseeing the election process. Unlike a traditional hero who seeks power, Lawrence is a man grappling with a crisis of faith. He is an intellectual and a diplomat who finds himself thrust into the center of a conspiracy he never wanted to manage.

Fiennes delivers a masterclass in internal performance. Much of his work is done through silence, glances, and the subtle shifting of his posture. As Lawrence discovers secrets about the frontrunners for the papacy, his internal struggle becomes the film’s moral compass. The performance avoids the typical tropes of a "pious leader"; instead, Fiennes portrays Lawrence as a weary administrator who is desperate for the truth, even if that truth threatens the institution he has served his entire life.

In the film's opening act, Lawrence's speech to the College about the "sin of certainty" sets the stage for the narrative. Fiennes captures the character’s vulnerability, making the audience understand that his doubt is not a weakness, but a form of spiritual integrity. His performance was widely recognized during the 2024 awards season, earning a nomination for Best Actor at the Academy Awards and the BAFTA Film Awards.

The Reformer: Stanley Tucci as Cardinal Aldo Bellini

Stanley Tucci plays Cardinal Aldo Bellini, an American progressive and the late Pope’s Secretary of State. Bellini represents the liberal wing of the Church, advocating for modernization and a departure from rigid traditionalism. He is initially viewed as the frontrunner, the man best suited to carry on the legacy of the deceased Pope.

Tucci brings a sharp, worldly intelligence to the role. Bellini is a character who understands political optics and the necessity of winning, yet he maintains a veneer of reluctance toward the papacy itself. The dynamic between Tucci and Fiennes is one of the film's strongest elements; they portray a long-standing friendship tested by the pressures of the conclave. Tucci’s performance highlights the irony of a man who must "play the game" of politics to save the Church from those he deems dangerous, often questioning his own motives in the process.

The Traditionalist Antagonist: Sergio Castellitto as Cardinal Goffredo Tedesco

Every political thriller requires a foil, and in Conclave, that role is filled by Sergio Castellitto as Cardinal Goffredo Tedesco. An Italian traditionalist, Tedesco represents the faction that wishes to return the Church to its pre-Vatican II roots. He views the progressive shifts of the last decades as a betrayal of faith and seeks the papacy to reverse them.

Castellitto provides a fiery contrast to the more reserved Lawrence and Bellini. His performance is tactile and aggressive—often seen smoking or eating with a gusto that suggests a man comfortable with his appetites and his convictions. Tedesco serves as a reminder of the ideological divide within the global Catholic community, and Castellitto portrays him not as a cartoon villain, but as a man genuinely convinced that he is the only one capable of saving the faith from irrelevance.

The Moderate with a Secret: John Lithgow as Cardinal Joseph Tremblay

John Lithgow appears as Cardinal Joseph Tremblay, a Canadian moderate who seems to be the compromise candidate. Tremblay is charismatic, well-liked, and positioned as someone who can bridge the gap between the warring factions of the College. However, as Lawrence investigates the late Pope's final days, Tremblay becomes a figure of intense suspicion.

Lithgow utilizes his talent for playing characters who hide a sinister or calculating edge beneath a friendly exterior. As the film progresses, the layers of Tremblay’s ambition are peeled away. Lithgow’s portrayal captures the specific type of political animal found in large organizations—the one who uses "moderation" as a cloak for self-interest. His interactions with Fiennes in the latter half of the film provide some of the most intense dialogue-driven sequences in the movie.

The Silent Observer: Isabella Rossellini as Sister Agnes

In a film dominated by men in red robes, Isabella Rossellini provides a crucial, grounding presence as Sister Agnes. She is the head of the sisters responsible for the domestic care of the cardinals during the conclave. For much of the film, Agnes remains in the background, a silent figure observing the machinations of the powerful men she serves.

Rossellini’s role is a testament to the idea that presence is more important than dialogue. Sister Agnes sees everything—the secrets, the lies, and the hypocrisies. When she finally does speak, her words carry a devastating weight. Rossellini imbues the character with a quiet authority and a sharp wit, representing the millions of women within the Church whose labor sustains the institution but who are excluded from its formal power structures. Her performance was a standout for critics, highlighting the "invisible" eyes of the Vatican.

The Outsider: Carlos Diehz as Cardinal Vincent Benitez

Perhaps the most mysterious character in the film is Cardinal Vincent Benitez, played by newcomer Carlos Diehz. Benitez arrives at the conclave at the eleventh hour, having been named a cardinal "in pectore" (in the heart) by the late Pope before his death. Serving as an archbishop in Kabul, Benitez is unknown to the rest of the College.

Diehz delivers a performance characterized by humility and stillness. Benitez serves as a direct contrast to the ambitious and politically savvy cardinals from Europe and the Americas. His role becomes central to the film's climactic twist, a reveal that challenges the traditional definitions of identity and divinity within the Church. Diehz’s ability to maintain a sense of peace amidst the chaotic political storm of the conclave is essential for the film's ending to resonate emotionally and spiritually.

The Conservative Challenger: Lucian Msamati as Cardinal Joshua Adeyemi

Lucian Msamati plays Cardinal Joshua Adeyemi, a Nigerian cardinal whose social conservatism makes him a favorite among many delegates from the Global South. Adeyemi is a powerful orator and a formidable contender for the papacy, representing the growing influence of the Church in Africa.

Msamati captures the dignity and the moral weight of Adeyemi, but also his tragic flaws. As a whisper campaign begins to uncover secrets from Adeyemi’s past, Msamati portrays the crumbling of a man’s reputation with painful clarity. His character’s arc explores the intersection of personal history and public morality, and how the "perfect" candidate can be undone by the very standards they champion.

Supporting Cast and the College of Cardinals

The realism of Conclave is bolstered by a large supporting cast that fills the ranks of the College of Cardinals. These actors create a sense of a global, diverse body with competing interests.

  • Brían F. O'Byrne as Monsignor Raymond O'Malley: As Lawrence’s assistant and researcher, O'Byrne provides the investigative backbone of the film. He is the one who sifts through documents and tracks down leads, acting as the Watson to Lawrence’s Sherlock Holmes.
  • Merab Ninidze as Cardinal Sabbadin: Representing the Eastern European contingent, Ninidze adds to the international flavor of the deliberations.
  • Thomas Loibl as Archbishop Mandorff: A key figure in the Vatican administration who assists in the logistics of the election.
  • Jacek Koman as Archbishop Janusz Woźniak: The late Pope’s confidant who holds the keys to many of the initial mysteries surrounding the Pope's death.

Director Edward Berger’s Vision and the Ensemble

The success of the cast is inextricably linked to the direction of Edward Berger. Fresh off the success of All Quiet on the Western Front, Berger brings a clinical, almost architectural precision to Conclave. He treats the Vatican like a pressure cooker, using tight framing and a rhythmic editing style to heighten the claustrophobia of the election.

Berger’s approach to the cast was to treat the conclave not just as a religious event, but as a political election similar to a presidential race or a corporate takeover. By grounding the performances in these recognizable human motivations—ambition, fear, loyalty, and betrayal—he makes the internal politics of the Church accessible to a secular audience. The cast was recognized by the Screen Actors Guild with a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, a testament to how well these individual performances coalesced into a unified narrative.

Behind the Scenes: The Technical Cast

While the actors are in front of the camera, the "cast" of the film includes the technical masters who shaped the world they inhabit.

  • Stéphane Fontaine (Cinematography): The lighting of the film, particularly the use of shadows in the Vatican halls, complements the secretive nature of the plot. The way Fontaine captures the textures of the cardinal's silk robes and the cold stone of the Sistine Chapel adds a sensory layer to the performances.
  • Volker Bertelmann (Music): The score is unconventional for a film about the Vatican. Instead of soaring choral arrangements, Bertelmann uses dissonant strings and a pulsing, anxious rhythm. This musical choices mirror the internal state of Ralph Fiennes’ character, Lawrence, and keeps the audience on edge throughout the deliberation scenes.
  • Peter Straughan (Screenplay): The script provides the actors with sharp, economical dialogue. Much of the film’s tension is derived from what is not said, and Straughan’s adaptation of Harris’s novel gives the cast the space to perform between the lines.

Character Analysis: The Dynamics of Power

The film’s brilliance lies in how it maps out the different types of power within the College. We see the power of ideology (Tedesco), the power of reform (Bellini), the power of secrets (Tremblay), and the power of humility (Benitez).

Ralph Fiennes’ Lawrence sits in the middle of these vectors. He is the arbiter of power who wants none of it. This creates a fascinating dynamic where the characters who want the papacy the most are the ones who are gradually disqualified, while those who are hesitant are drawn toward the center. The cast manages to convey this "dance of the cardinals" with a level of sophistication that prevents the film from feeling like a standard melodrama.

In our analysis of the film's pacing, the mid-point explosion—a terrorist attack that occurs outside the Vatican—acts as a catalyst that forces the cast to drop their political masks. In the face of external violence, the cardinals must decide if they are politicians or priests. The shift in the actors' demeanors in the final third of the film is palpable, moving from calculated debate to a raw, existential crisis.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Conclave Cast

Who plays the lead role in Conclave?

Ralph Fiennes stars as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, the Dean of the College of Cardinals. His character is responsible for managing the election process following the death of the Pope.

Is Isabella Rossellini in the movie Conclave?

Yes, Isabella Rossellini plays Sister Agnes, the head of the sisters who manage the household affairs of the cardinals during their seclusion. Although she has limited dialogue, her character is pivotal to the film’s plot.

Who is the "mystery" cardinal in the film?

Cardinal Vincent Benitez, played by Carlos Diehz, is the mystery cardinal. He was appointed "in pectore" (secretly) by the late Pope while serving in Kabul, and his arrival at the conclave changes the course of the election.

Did the cast of Conclave win any awards?

The ensemble cast received a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. Ralph Fiennes also received numerous nominations for Best Actor, including at the Oscars and BAFTAs.

Who directed the film?

The film was directed by Edward Berger, who previously won an Academy Award for the 2022 film All Quiet on the Western Front.

How does the cast compare to the Robert Harris novel?

The film is remarkably faithful to the characters described in Robert Harris's 2016 novel. While some internal monologues are replaced by visual storytelling, the core archetypes—the reformer, the traditionalist, and the moderate—remain intact and are brought to life vividly by the cast.

Summary

The 2024 film Conclave is a rare example of a political thriller that relies almost entirely on character development and dialogue rather than action. The cast, led by a career-best performance from Ralph Fiennes, brings an incredible level of gravity and realism to a world that is usually hidden from public view. Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Sergio Castellitto provide the ideological friction necessary to keep the plot moving, while Isabella Rossellini and Carlos Diehz offer the quiet, unexpected perspectives that ultimately define the film's conclusion.

By focusing on the human flaws and virtues of these high-ranking religious officials, the actors make the ancient ritual of the conclave feel contemporary and urgent. Whether you are interested in the theological debates or the psychological chess match of leadership, the performances in Conclave ensure that the film remains a gripping experience from the opening heart attack to the final, shocking ballot.