The Two Popes Backdrop Blur
The Two Popes Poster

The Two Popes

"Inspired by true events."

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.

Top 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

Overview

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.

Rating

7.5 / 10
3,155 Reviews
2 Popular

2 Reviews

  • Manuel São Bento
    Manuel São Bento
    7 Dec 30, 2019

    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
    CinemaSerf
    7 Mar 27, 2022

    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.

Trailers & Clips

Recommendations