New Pope Watches Conclave Movie, Plays Games While Awaiting Conclave

If you've ever been curious about how a prospective Pope spends his leisure time, you might be surprised to learn that the newly elected Pope Leo XIV enjoys activities that many of us can relate to, such as playing games and watching movies in his downtime.

As previously reported, Edward Berger's gripping papal thriller, Conclave, captivated audiences last year. Its remarkably accurate depiction of the papal election process led some real-life religious leaders, including participants in this week's conclave to elect a new Pope, to seek guidance from the film. Among them was Robert Francis Prevost, who has now been elected as Pope Leo XIV.

Pope Leo XIV enjoys gaming in his free time. Photo by Christopher Furlong/[ttpp].

In an interview with NBC, Pope Leo XIV's older brother, John Prevost, shed light on their last conversation before the conclave. The brothers, who play Wordle and Words with Friends daily, also discussed the movie Conclave. John asked if his brother had watched the film for tips, to which he replied, "He had just finished watching the movie Conclave. So he knew how to behave. So, it's that kind of stuff [that we talk about] — I just wanted to take his mind off of [the upcoming conclave]. Laugh about something."

Directed by Edward Berger, the BAFTA and Oscar-winning film *Conclave* delves into one of the world's most secretive and ancient events — the selection of a new Pope. The story follows Cardinal Lawrence (played by Ralph Fiennes), who is responsible for overseeing the covert process following the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. As the Catholic Church's most influential leaders gather from around the globe and are confined within the Vatican, Lawrence uncovers a conspiracy and a secret that could potentially destabilize the Church's foundation.