Warning: This post contains spoilers for Conclave.Edward Berger’s Conclave has drawn attention for its shocking conclusion, and a real-life pope expert now explains how realistic it is. The political thriller, based on Robert Harris's 2016 novel, follows the College of Cardinals as they convene to elect a new pope after the sudden death of the previous one. Conclave's cast, with Ralph Fiennes leading as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, navigates a maze of political intrigue, spiritual conflict, and moral dilemmas within the Vatican's inner sanctuary. The film culminates in the election of Archbishop Vincent Benitez (Carlos Diehz) with a thunderous revelation: Benitez was born intersex.

In an interview with GQ, David Gibson, Director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University, addressed Conclave’s surprise ending. Gibson discussed the feasibility of an intersex pope and the broader implications of the film's ending, touching on the Church's evolving stance on gender and sexuality.