Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday at the age of 88, people around the world have found new interest in the 2024 Edward Berger film "Conclave," which tells a fictionalized version of the choosing of the new leader of the Catholic church. "Conclave" is sumptuously shot and features an incredible cast, including Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow, all performing at the top of their game, but with the real-world recent events in Rome leading us toward a conclave of our own, audiences have to wonder — just how accurate is "Conclave," really?

Well, it's complicated. The film strove for accuracy with regards to the costumes, location, and ceremony of the conclave, even though the process has been shrouded in secrecy for hundreds of years. Interviews with Catholic officials and scholars have revealed that while certain elements of the story are unrealistic, overall "Conclave" is an incredible...