The Two Popes is a 2008 American biographical drama film directed by Fernando Meirelles and produced by Dan Lin, Jonathan Eirich and Tracey Seaward. The screenplay was written by Anthony McCarten and is based on ‘The Pope‘ by Anthony McCarten.
Rated: PG-13 (movie contains thematic content and disturbing violent images)
Run Time: 2h 5min
Release Date: November 27, 2019 (USA)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Studio: Netflix
Budget: $37 Million
Box Office: $720,000
The Two Popes stars Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce, Juan Minujin, Luis Gnecco, Cristina Banegas, Sidney Cole, Lisandro Fiks, Thomas D. Williams and Federico Torre.
The Two Popes is an intimate story inspired by true events of one of the most dramatic transitions of power in the last 2000 years.
In April 2005, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce) is in Buenos Aires, Argentina when he receives news that Pope John Paul II has passed away. As is tradition, the Cardinals gather in Vatican City to elect a new Pope. At the time, the votes are split between Bergoglio, Joseph Ratzinger (Anthony Hopkins) and another Cardinal named Martini. Martini transfers his votes to Bergoglio, who doesn’t really want to be Pope, while Ratzinger campaigns hungrily for future votes and becomes Pope Benedict. Bergoglio returns to Argentina with plans to do simple work and then retire. Meanwhile Ratzinger’s tenure as Pope is marked by controversy and claims he is too conservative.
Frustrated with the direction of the church, in 2012 Cardinal Bergoglio requests permission to retire from Pope Benedict but Ratzinger feels that his resignation will look like a protest and criticism against him. Ratzinger grills Bergoglio on his more liberal views and Bergoglio explains he can’t be a salesperson for a product he does not believe in. He explains that while the church was dealing with its rituals and dogma, the real problem of inequality and injustice were ignored, especially the Church’s handling of sex abuses against children and Ratzinger angrily rebukes everything he says.
Instead, facing scandal and self-doubt, the introspective Pope Benedict summons his harshest critic and future successor to Rome to reveal a secret that would shake the foundations of the Catholic Church. Benedict explains that he really brought Bergoglio to Rome not to accept his retirement, but instead because he was retiring. Bergoglio is shocked, saying Popes can’t resign, and tells him not to do it, saying it would damage the papacy. He explains that he knew he could not retire if Bergoglio was resigning in case he was elected Pope. Bergoglio insists he couldn’t be Pope and doesn’t deserve to be Pope.
Behind Vatican walls, a struggle commences between both tradition and progress, guilt and forgiveness, as these two very different men confront their pasts in order to find common ground and forge a new future path for the Catholic Church and over a billion followers around the world. In 2013, Ratzinger retires, shocking the world. Bergoglio is elected to be the newest Pope and dubs himself Pope Francis.
Movie Quotes
“What is the hymn you are whistling?” – Pope Benedict
“Dancing Queen” – Pope Francis
“There are no coincidences.” – Pope Francis
“We keep files on everyone so you don’t have to be flattered.” – Pope Benedict
“You have a spare cardinal hat?” – Pope Francis
Official Movie Trailer
Movie Stars
Anthony Hopkins as Cardinal Ratzinger / Pope Benedict
Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio / Pope Francis
Juan Minujin as Younger Jorge Bergoglio
Luis Gnecco as Cardinal Hummes
Christina Banegas as Lisabetta
Sidney Cole as Cardinal Turkson
Lisandro Fiks as Father Jalics
Thomas D. Williams as American Journalist
Federico Torre as Protodeacon Estevez