What if a single secret could upend centuries of Vatican dogma? Conclave doesn’t just ask the question—it puts it front and center in a final act that pushes the boundaries of religious and political cinema. This gripping drama is already one of the most talked-about films of the season, not just for its suspense but for the bold way it tackles subjects rarely, if ever, explored on screen.
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So, What Happens to Cardinal Benítez in Conclave?
If you haven’t seen Conclave yet, consider this your official spoiler warning.
The film ends with a twist that’s not just shocking—it’s deeply meaningful. Cardinal Benítez, a Mexican missionary with years of experience in the world’s most difficult regions, is elected the next pope. Taking the name Pope Innocent, his appointment seems to signal a new era of progress for the Church.
But that optimism is shattered when Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (played brilliantly by Ralph Fiennes) uncovers a detail from Benítez’s past that could change everything.
Lawrence reveals that Benítez once canceled a surgical procedure—a laparoscopic hysterectomy. The implication? The new pope is intersex: born with both male and female reproductive organs, but assigned male at birth.
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What Does It Mean to Be Intersex?
Intersex people are born with physical sex characteristics that don’t fit typical definitions of male or female. This might include chromosomes, genitalia, or internal reproductive anatomy that don’t align with binary norms. It’s a completely natural variation of human biology—yet one that has historically been silenced, misunderstood, or erased.
In Pope Innocent’s case, the revelation of his intersex identity doesn’t just rattle the Church—it challenges its very foundations. At the film’s emotional peak, the pope simply states:
“I am as God made me.”
It’s a declaration that shakes centuries of doctrine and reaffirms his right to exist exactly as he is.
A Pope Like Never Before
Conclave dares to imagine an intersex pope—something entirely unprecedented in the history of cinema, and certainly in any narrative involving the Catholic Church. The twist raises urgent questions about how ancient institutions handle diversity, and whether tradition can coexist with acceptance.
But this isn’t shock for shock’s sake. The film opens up real, complex conversations about identity, faith, and the humanity behind power. By refusing to erase or hide who he is, Pope Innocent becomes a symbol of resistance—not against faith, but against exclusion.
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The Power of “I Am as God Made Me”
That line isn’t just a moment of defiance. It’s the emotional spine of the entire film.
With those six words, Pope Innocent asserts his truth not as an apology, but as divine fact. It’s a radical kind of self-acceptance—one that challenges religious norms, cultural expectations, and deeply rooted systems of control. It forces the audience to ask: what if holiness includes difference? What if God’s image was never meant to fit inside a box?
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Conclave Is More Than a Movie
Conclave doesn’t settle for being a smart political thriller. It’s a statement.
By merging ecclesiastical drama with radical empathy, it emerges as a film that dares to ask what we’re really afraid of: difference, truth, or change. And in doing so, it invites viewers to confront their own beliefs—not just about faith, but about what it means to fully accept someone as they are.
This article was originally written in Spanish by Alan Cruz in Cultura Colectiva.
