The Two Popes backdrop
The Two Popes

The Two Popes

Inspired by true events.

7.5 / 1020192h 5m

Synopsis

Frustrated with the direction of the church, Cardinal Bergoglio requests permission to retire in 2012 from Pope Benedict. 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.

Genre: Drama, History

Status: Released

Director: Fernando Meirelles

Website: https://www.thetwopopesmovie.com/

Main Cast

Jonathan Pryce

Jonathan Pryce

Jorge Bergoglio / Pope Francis

Anthony Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins

Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI

Juan Minujín

Juan Minujín

Young Jorge Bergoglio

Luis Gnecco

Luis Gnecco

Cardinal Hummes

Cristina Banegas

Cristina Banegas

Lisabetta

María Ucedo

María Ucedo

Esther Ballestrine

Renato Scarpa

Renato Scarpa

Camerlengo

Sidney Cole

Sidney Cole

Cardinal Turkson

Achille Brugnini

Achille Brugnini

Cardinal Martini

Federico Torre

Federico Torre

Protodeacon Estevez

Trailer

User Reviews

Manuel São Bento

Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce deliver two award-worthy performances, elevating a surprisingly humorous story about religion. Not a fan of the editing and the film goes on for a bit too long. Rating: B

CinemaSerf

This is quite a clever piece of work. Both performances demonstrate a complex, sometimes conflicted, humanity in a touching and thought-provoking way. Hopkins, as the scholarly Benedict XVI coming to realise that he no longer feels capable - for various reasons - to remain Pontiff and Pryce as Cardinal Bergoglio with whom he has little in common, and who has come to Rome to seek his permission to retire. The story focuses more on the trials and tribulations of Bergoglio as he rises to prominence in the Jesuit order and navigates the political turmoil of Argentina in the 70s and 80s where he develops a much less "conservative" approach to the issues facing the Catholic Church than his Pope. By the conclusion, however, both men appear reconciled to the honesty and integrity of the other. The extent to which the detail is true is anyone's guess - but by using humour, sport and even ABBA, this proves to be an intimate observational film that is certainly one of Netflix' better commissions.