Ralph Fiennes plays Cardinal Thomas Lawrence in “Conclave.” | Image: Screengrab from YouTube/Focus Features
The cast of the Vatican thriller “Conclave,” which took home the Best Ensemble trophy at the recent SAG Awards, extended their well-wishes to Pope Francis, who is currently hospitalized due to pneumonia in both lungs.
“We are very, very worried for our pope,” Isabella Rossellini told reporters at the SAG Awards virtual press room. “We love this pope — Papa Francesco, Pope Francis. We wish him well. We wish him to recover.”
Actor and director Sergio Castellitto echoed his co-star’s statement by reflecting on the deep connection that many Italians feel with Pope Francis.
“For us that live in Rome, to live a few meters, a few yards from the Pope is to have a much closer relationship. We see the helicopter leaving his place: ‘Oh, is the Pope flying off today and coming back!’ So, our relationship as Italians to the Pope is much closer. I repeat, I really wish him well,” he expressed in Italian.
The Vatican said in its evening bulletin on Tuesday, Feb. 25, that the pope’s condition showed “slight improvement.” He has been hospitalized since Feb. 14,
“Conclave” is adapted from Robert Harris’ 2016 best-selling novel of the same name, which revolves around the Catholic tradition of the papal conclave, when the papacy is vacated either because of death or retirement, and the cardinals gather inside the walls of the Vatican under a veil of secrecy to elect the new Bishop of Rome, aka the Pope.
Aside from its SAG Awards win, the papal thriller previously won four awards at the 78th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA). It also bagged the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay. For the 97th Academy Awards, it has earned eight nominations including Best Picture.
As of Feb. 23, “Conclave” has grossed $32.3 million in the United States and Canada box office, and $64.3 million in other territories, with a worldwide total of $98.5 million.