Character Relationship Map: Conclave

Characters

• Lawrence (played by Ralph Fiennes) — protagonist

  Dean of the College of Cardinals and leader of the papal conclave. Navigates complex political maneuvering, uncovers corruption among candidates, and ultimately guides the election toward an unexpecte...

• Bellini (played by Stanley Tucci) — protagonist

  US Cardinal and progressive reformer. Aims to block Tedesco's election and initially seeks to hide Tremblay's corruption after gaining his administrative promises, but later allies with Lawrence.

• Tremblay (played by John Lithgow) — supporting

  Canadian Cardinal and moderate candidate. Denied resignation by the late pope, he secretly buys votes and manipulates staff transfers. Exposed and eliminated from the conclave after his corruption is...

• Sister Agnes (played by Isabella Rossellini) — supporting

  Acting head caterer and housekeeper in the Vatican. Assists Lawrence in his investigations, helps uncover Tremblay's corruption, and aids in publicizing the scandal.

• Adeyemi (played by Lucian Msamati) — supporting

  Nigerian Cardinal and social conservative. Leads early voting but faces a damaging scandal regarding a past relationship with Sister Shanumi and a child given up for adoption, derailing his candidacy.

• Tedesco (played by Sergio Castellitto) — supporting

  Italian Cardinal and staunch traditionalist. Emerges as a strong candidate but suffers momentum loss after the Sistine Chapel explosion. Makes an inflammatory speech against Islam, prompting Benítez's...

• O'Malley (played by Brían F. O'Byrne) — supporting

  Monsignor and Lawrence's assistant. Uncovers that the late pope funded Benítez's travel to Geneva and later warns Lawrence about Benítez's canceled medical appointment, triggering the final confrontat...

• Sister Shanumi (played by Balkissa Souley Maiga) — cameo

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Tremblay → Bellini (Power Political Patron) — Tremblay attempts to secure Bellini through a promised appointment.

  Tremblay gains Bellini's support by promising him a position in his administration.

• Tremblay → Sister Shanumi (Power Transfer Arranger) — Tremblay uses institutional influence over Shanumi's placement.

  Lawrence and Agnes discover that Tremblay arranged Shanumi's transfer to Vatican City.

• Adeyemi → Sister Shanumi (Romantic Former Lover) — Their past relationship becomes the scandal that damages Adeyemi's campaign.

  Shanumi confesses to a past illicit relationship with Adeyemi that resulted in a son she gave up for adoption.

• Lawrence → Adeyemi (Professional Confidant And Interrogator) — Lawrence investigates the scandal that undermines Adeyemi's candidacy.

  Lawrence speaks with Shanumi about her past relationship with Adeyemi and presses Adeyemi to confirm her account.

• Lawrence → O'Malley (Professional Supervisor) — Lawrence directs O'Malley's work as his principal assistant.

  O'Malley is identified as Lawrence's assistant and works under his leadership during the conclave.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Lawrence → Sister Shanumi (Social Confidential Counselor) — Lawrence becomes the recipient of Shanumi's confidential testimony.

  Lawrence speaks privately with Shanumi, who confesses her past relationship with Adeyemi and the adoption of their son.

• Tedesco → Bellini (Conflict Electoral Rival) — Bellini's central electoral objective is to block Tedesco.

  Bellini tells supporters that his goal is to prevent Tedesco from winning the papacy.

• Tedesco → Adeyemi (Conflict Electoral Rival) — Adeyemi and Tedesco compete directly for support in the early voting.

  During the first ballots, Adeyemi leads Tedesco, Tremblay, Bellini, and Lawrence.

• Tedesco → Sister Shanumi (Unknown Institutional Opponent) — The plot places Tedesco's faction in tension with the scandal surrounding Shanumi, though no direct personal exchange is shown.

  Tedesco's campaign represents a traditionalist faction during a conclave in which Shanumi's treatment and testimony become politically significant.

• Lawrence → Tedesco (Conflict Electoral Opponent) — Lawrence ultimately positions himself against Tedesco's traditionalist bid.

  Bellini and Lawrence reconcile and agree to stand against Tedesco after Tremblay is removed from contention.

• Lawrence → Tremblay (Conflict Investigator And Suspect) — Lawrence's investigation exposes Tremblay's electoral corruption.

  Lawrence investigates Tremblay after discovering that Tremblay arranged Shanumi's transfer and paid cardinals for votes.

• Lawrence → Sister Agnes (Alliance Investigative Partner) — Agnes provides practical assistance during Lawrence's investigation.

  Lawrence works with Sister Agnes to discover that Tremblay arranged Shanumi's transfer.

• Lawrence → Bellini (Alliance Political Ally) — Their relationship develops from wary cooperation into a decisive electoral alliance.

  Lawrence shows Bellini the documents proving Tremblay bought votes. After Bellini initially argues for concealment, the two reconcile and agree to opp...

Story Analysis

A conflicted dean navigates scandals, corruption, violence, and uncertainty to guide a divided institution toward an unexpected election.

Plot Progression

1. A Divided College — Lawrence convenes the cardinals after the pope's death. Four candidates compete while the unexpected arrival of a Mexican-born cardinal introduces a new uncertainty.
2. Secrets Beneath the Ballots — The first ballots fail to produce a winner, and O'Malley uncovers a mysterious medical journey. A private scandal involving Adeyemi and Shanumi then destabilizes the early favorite.
3. Corruption in the Household — Lawrence and Agnes trace Shanumi's transfer to Tremblay. Evidence from the sealed apartment reveals that Tremblay purchased votes and gained Bellini's conditional support.
4. Violence at the Chapel — Tremblay is exposed, but an explosion interrupts the conclave. Tedesco responds with a call for religious war, while the unexpected cardinal rejects vengeance and political calculation.
5. The Unforeseen Successor — The cardinals overwhelmingly elect the unexpected candidate as pope. Lawrence then learns of a canceled medical appointment and confronts the new pontiff about a deeply private bodily history.