Robert Harris, the best-selling author of the 2016 novel Conclave, has gotten people buzzing. He compares the papal selection process to the scheming and backstabbing of the reality TV phenomenon The Traitors. His book was adapted into an Oscar-winning animated film. It examines the elaborate ceremonies associated with the papal conclave that takes place in the Sistine Chapel. Here Harris makes a strong original point. He thinks that this centuries-old practice is a “rather brilliant device” for filtering out the best and brightest leaders into the Catholic Church.
As the world prepares for the election to succeed Pope Francis, Harris looks back extensively on his research adventure into understanding the conclave. Through his experience in the Vatican, he earned access to areas of the Vatican that are predominantly hidden from outsiders. “They showed me the most extraordinary things and allowed me to walk along the corridor to the balcony where the new Pope shows himself to the huge crowd in St Peter’s Square,” he recounted.
Harris argues that UK political parties, not just the major ones, have much to learn from the conclave process.… He noted how some of the major parties have opened their leadership contests to a broader base of members. Unfortunately, this strategy has failed to yield promising outcomes. “To lock the door and say you’re not going to come out until you’ve come up with a result concentrates the mind – and if you look back, the popes have been pretty good,” he stated.
In Conclave, Harris draws attention to the sidelining of women not just from the priesthood, but from having a voice in papal elections. He is puzzled that an important part of the Church still finds ways to marginalize women’s voices. “Can any sophisticated religion, with such a huge following, really go on and on into the future with such a secondary, demeaning role for women?” he questioned. He questioned whether Christ would have wanted his teachings to be shared only by men.
Supporters Harris understands the gap in representation. He casts Sister Agnes, a fictional character, into the story to speak up at a crucial moment in the conclave in order to bring a feminine voice to the narrative. “I wanted to find some way of getting the female voice in this process, and the only way is the women who serve the meals, clean the rooms, and run the hostel when the cardinals are there,” Harris explained. He added, “I really wanted to make them a part of the story.”
Harris compares the tension-filled conclave to other dramatic scenarios, asserting that it embodies elements of spiritual, human, and political drama. “It’s spiritual and human and political drama all woven into one,” he remarked. He likened the conclave’s atmosphere to that of a family drama: For a day long conclave is perhaps the most drama less affair of a reading of a will. It’s that level of natural drama.
Harris is preparing for his book’s having renewed relevance as the next papal election looms. Throughout, he diligently connects his imagined storyline with real world events. He notes how “suddenly everyone swings to one person – you can’t see why, particularly, but it happens,” pointing to the often unpredictable nature of leadership selection.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor helped Harris in his research and recognized the potential of Conclave. He asked for an Italian translation so he could present it to Pope Francis himself. Whether trying to make sense of past practices or looking to understand today’s debates within the Church, the book’s insights will ring true to all who seek truth.
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