If you are like me, you probably have a hard time humanizing the profoundly holy such as popes, saints, and even Jesus Christ. You might picture the current pope as an aloof head of state associated with much pomp and circumstance but have not really thought much about this man of the cloth. In the 2019 Drama/Comedy, The Two Popes, we are given a window into the election of the conclave as well as insights into the souls of two holy sovereigns. Although Anthony Hopkins (Pope Benedict XVI) and Jonathan Pryce (Pope Francis) portray religious leaders with vastly different viewpoints, their mutual love for God and the Roman Catholic church is unmistakable.
Pope Benedict XVI is described as a rottweiler, protecting the House of God, resisting reform of the church at all costs, as he insists his job is to defend 2,000 years of tradition. Pope Francis is seen as a proponent of reform and believes that even God is constantly changing. Ultimately, in the end, we understand that these vastly different individuals are in fact fighting for the same team and that is what I believe the 1.3 billion Catholics in the world today need to remember.
I have a friend. She is smart, up to date with current events and educated in her church history. By no means does she agree with everything the church does yet remains devoutly Catholic. Her dedication inspires me. She is not complacent, she has not “given up” nor has she traded her beliefs. She simply has a steadfast faith and is willing to invest her time and prayers in an institution which serves as the largest non-government provider of education and medical services in the world. We can all learn from her just as we can learn a valuable lesson portrayed in The Two Popes.
As the faithful continue to dwindle today as if our religion is something that can easily be abandoned for disagreements with the church, it is essential to remember we are in fact all on the same team. We don’t always have to agree with each other, and the church does not have to perfectly align with our perceptual framework to maintain our Catholic community.
Throughout history the Catholic church has served as a safe haven for the sick and the poor, for refugees, orphans, and lepers. The Catholic church can and does help millions of people worldwide. Though each pontiff may have his own methods, The Two Popes will renew your faith in the divine path that leads to this role. All you need to know to decide if this movie is worth watching can be answered with the number of chills I felt during viewing it. Honestly, I lost count.
*I encourage you all to watch this movie this weekend on Netflix (or read the book!). Check back on my next post to download the discussion guide!
