The Politics Behind the Papacy: Historical Corruption and Modern Implications

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With the papal conclave convening in Rome to pick Pope Francis's successor, Matt and Sam are joined by novelist Brandon Taylor to discuss the 2024 film Conclave, directed by Edward Berger and starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. The film, as you might guess, depicts the shabby and conspiratorial inner-workings of a (fictional) College of Cardinals as they go about picking a new pope. Fun movie! Great chat!

Furthering Reading:

Brandon Taylor, Real Life, (2020)

— Filthy Animals, (2021)

— The Late Americans, (2023)

— "Is it even good? Two Years with Zola," LRB, April 4, 2024.

Ben Munster, "Cardinals are watching ‘Conclave’ the movie for guidance on the actual conclave," Politico, May 6, 2025.

Dan Walden, "Gender, Sex, and other Nonsense," Commonweal, March 1, 2021.