Meet the man who inspired Ralph Fiennes’s Conclave character – and learn the true secrets of selecting a Pope

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Despite inspiring Ralph Fiennes’s acclaimed performance in the movie Conclave, Cardinal Vincent Nichols isn’t particularly concerned with watching it. “I haven’t seen the film yet,” says the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster – the spiritual leader of Catholics in England and Wales – as he welcomes a visitor into his peaceful study, located behind the impressive Westminster Cathedral.

We spent a long time talking before he started filming. He came over and we chatted for about three hours. Then I asked if he’d like to try on the costume. He put it on, looked in the mirror, and said he felt ready to go. It’s incredible how quickly he can get into character – he’s truly talented.

Cardinal Nichols hasn’t requested a preview of the BBC Two documentary, ‘Secrets of the Conclave,’ where he shares his firsthand account of the events that took place during the private meeting in Rome to select the next Pope. He considers being involved in the documentary a particularly meaningful experience in his career with the Church.

I’ve always been struck by John Nichols. He’s a really gentle, softly-spoken man, about eighty years old, and you can still hear his Liverpool roots – he grew up in Crosby, you know. It’s lovely; you can tell by his accent, and it makes perfect sense why he has that framed Liverpool shirt in his study. What you see on TV – that calm, charming presence – is exactly how he is in person, too.

He didn’t need to watch the movie based on Robert Harris’s novel about the papal election – he was actually involved in the real thing, the election of Pope Leo XIV. For two days in May, people around the world watched live on TV and online as the Vatican signaled the new pope’s selection, making it a major global event.

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Nichols didn’t realize this at the moment. He was one of 133 cardinals secluded within the Vatican during the papal conclave, completely cut off from outside communication – a practice stemming from the Latin word for ‘key,’ ‘clave,’ used to signify their locked-in state.

He recalls that when he arrived at the Santa Marta guesthouse (located near Saint Peter’s Basilica), the security check was even stricter than at any airport. His phone was placed in a sealed bag, and his Kindle, used for prayer, wasn’t allowed. While his hearing aids and charger were tested, he was ultimately permitted to keep them. He noticed what appeared to be a heater in his room, but was informed it was actually a device to detect any electronic signals entering or leaving. The window shutters were also sealed.

At first, being forced to isolate was jarring, but it ultimately proved to be a positive experience. He explains that it shifted everyone’s perspective for a short time, creating a sense of unity as people concentrated on a significant challenge.

The cardinals – including some Nichols already knew and others he was meeting for the first time, such as a 45-year-old from Mongolia whose church is a portable tent for traveling nomads – quickly began to familiarize themselves with each other.

I was really struck by how he described the atmosphere at the guest house – it wasn’t about outward displays of faith, he said, joking that all the praying had already been done at the Sistine Chapel! Instead, it was a place for quiet thought, and they intentionally disconnected from the digital world to really focus on what they were discussing.

I don’t recall anyone boasting or self-promoting, or conversely, warning others about anyone else. Instead, conversations were subtle and focused on character rather than personal traits.

As a film critic, I’ve covered plenty of stories about weighty decisions, but the selection of a new Pope feels different. In the Catholic Church, the Pope isn’t just a leader; they’re seen as the direct successor to Saint Peter, one of Jesus’ original apostles. That lineage creates a sense of history and responsibility unlike almost anything else. As Cardinal Nichols put it, everyone involved in choosing the new pontiff – leading the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, no less – fully understood just how enormous the job is.

Now Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Robert Prevost, recalls the moment he was elected with remarkable composure. He remembers being quite a distance from the center of the room when the vote reached its conclusion. Everyone followed the tally on individual score sheets, so the two-thirds majority was immediately known. When Cardinal Parolin approached and formally asked if he accepted the election as Pope, he simply replied, ‘I do.’ He then chose his papal name, stating simply, ‘I am Leo.’ It was clear he was already embracing his new role and identity, even in that moment.

The documentary features compelling visuals: the ballot-burning stove being brought into the Sistine Chapel, the construction of a chimney to signal the results to the waiting crowds, and a temporary floor laid over the chapel’s mosaic tiles to prevent falls by elderly cardinals as they cast their votes. It also shows the newly elected pope, still adjusting to his white robes (several sizes are tested beforehand), being cheered from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, appearing deeply moved. According to director Nichols, “He was visibly very emotional.”

The BBC has announced its TV plans for Christmas 2025, including new seasons of popular shows like The Traitors (season 4) and The Night Manager (season 2).

He was likely still adjusting to the loss of his former life. As Nichols explains, losing all privacy is a common experience. Even for him, coming back from Rome, the amount of attention was surprising. He remembers being stopped multiple times at Heathrow Airport by people curious if he’d attended the conclave.

Why were so many people drawn to the recent papal conclave? It seems people are longing for fundamental truths, especially at a time when truth often feels like a matter of opinion. We all recognize certain shared human qualities and desires, and ignoring them can lead to problems. The question is, who is selfless enough to champion these universal values, free from political maneuvering and the pursuit of power?

While walking towards the Sistine Chapel in Santa Marta, a cleaning lady stopped me and said, ‘We just need someone in white.’ She meant that something – or someone – was missing, and that having a figure dressed in white would complete the scene.

It’s similar to the feeling of becoming a parent – creating something new, ensuring a continuation of life, and finding meaning beyond oneself. It offers a sense of hope and the promise of lasting satisfaction.

That leads us to the topic of Christmas. The Archbishop hopes he’ll finally have a chance to watch the documentary, ‘Conclave.’ He admits it’s been upstairs unwatched, as he usually spends his TV time following his favorite football team, Liverpool. However, he encourages everyone to watch the documentary, wanting viewers to experience the thoughtful discussion and common goal shared by those involved in the spring conclave – a period of quiet reflection, disconnected from the constant noise of the digital world. It was a time without phones, but filled with purpose.

Read more: Conclave review: Ralph Fiennes is imperious in this finely-scripted papal thriller

Secrets of the Conclave airs on Monday, 22nd December at 9pm on BBC Two.

Don’t miss “Secrets of the Conclave”! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

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2025-12-07 19:45