INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
a stellar cast including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini
successor while uncovering dark secrets and scandals surrounding the main candidates.Four leading candidates emerge: Aldo Bellini, a
progressive from the U.S.; Joshua Adeyemi, a social conservative from Nigeria; Joseph Tremblay, a mainstream conservative from Canada; and
Goffredo Tedesco, an Italian traditionalist
Tensions rise when Archbishop Janusz Wozniak reveals that the late pope had called for Tremblay's resignation prior to his passing, a claim
Tremblay vehemently denies
and uncertainty, which some misinterpret as an indication of his own papal aspirations
The first round of voting fails to yield a two-thirds majority, with Adeyemi leading but struggling against church politics
The plot thickens as Monsignor Raymond O'Malley, Lawrence's assistant, discovers that the late pope had arranged for Cardinal-designate
Vincent Benitez to travel for a medical appointment, only for it to be canceled.Confrontations and revelations unfold as Adeyemi faces
accusations linked to his past with Sister Shanumi, a nun from Nigeria
These whispers compromise his candidacy, leading Bellini to reluctantly endorse Tremblay
As Lawrence digs deeper, he uncovers troubling evidence of vote tampering orchestrated by Tremblay, heightening the stakes.Tensions escalate
further on the third day of voting when an explosion disrupts the conclave
Amidst chaos, the candidates grapple with an ongoing series of suicide bombings in Europe
Tedesco's inflammatory rhetoric calls for violence, while Benitez advocates for peace
Ultimately, in a surprising turn of events, Benitez is elected pope, adopting the name "Innocent." Yet, revelations about his true
This article first appeared/also appeared in Tehran Times
