'Habemus Papam' Film | Even Popes Know Human Frailty

More Intelligent Life writes that Italian director Nanni Moretti’s new film ‘Habemus Papam’ is spiced with comedy and is not an anti-clerical satire, which is why the Vatican allowed the film to be made inside the famous halls.

A French cardinal (flawlessly portrayed by Michel Piccoli) is chosen as a compromise candidate to inherit the Fisherman’s Ring from the great Polish pope. But, overwhelmed by self-doubt, he flees from his proclamation on the balcony of St Peter’s Cathedral. The Vatican calls in a psychiatrist, played by Mr Moretti himself, and the film’s central theme—the interplay of spiritual aspiration and human frailty—begins to evolve. (A theme that also ran through the director’s 1984 movie, “La Messa è Finita”.)

Writing in the Avvenire daily, Vatican expert Salvatore Izzo has called for a boycott of the film, and Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica praised the film and Vatican Radio said that it contained “no irony, no caricature” of the pope. Sandro Magister, another Vatican expert, said there are divisions over the film but no official condemnation from Church authorities.