John Lithgow On Why ‘Conclave’ Resonated’ With Audiences; Isabella Rossellini Sends Well Wishes To Pope Francis

John Lithgow credits the timeliness of his latest film, Conclave, with why audiences have resonated with it. He and his castmates Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini and Sergio Castellitto received the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture award from the Screen Actors Guild earlier this evening.

“We shot this film a year ago in January and things have changed so deeply all over the world in the zeitgeist, for want of a better word. I think the film has ended up extremely timely, and it’s very entertaining because it’s extraordinary storytelling and the social organism, electing a leader,” Lithgow shared during the virtual backstage press room.

He continued, “Elections have become a great big, important subject of our time. And the last [U.S.] election, and the election that took place just yesterday in Germany; these are extremely important events right now. You cannot help seeing Conclave and not thinking of what happens when different tribes quarrel trying to decide on who is their leader. I think that’s one big reason people are paying attention to Conclave beyond the fact that it’s simply a beautiful film. You just don’t see storytelling on film like that much anymore.”

The Edward Berger-directed film, based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris, Conclave follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events — selecting the new pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes) is tasked with running the covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope following a heart attack. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders—The College of Cardinals—gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake, secrets so powerful they could shake the foundations of the Church.

Stanley Tucci is also part of the ensemble cast but did not attend tonight’s celebration in Los Angeles.

Rossellini spoke on behalf of herself and her Italian co-star Castellitto about Pope Francis, the Catholic Church’s current pontiff, who is in critical condition with double pneumonia and early kidney disease.

“We are very, very worried for our pope. We love this pope, Papa Francesco. We wish him well and that he recovers,” she shared.