New Pope Watches Conclave Movie, Plays Games While Awaiting Conclave

If you've ever wondered what a future Pope does in his free time, the answer might surprise you — according to a close family source, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV enjoys the same simple pleasures as the rest of us, including gaming and watching films during his downtime.

As we reported earlier this week, Edward Berger’s gripping papal thriller Conclave captivated audiences worldwide last year, leading some real-world religious figures — including those who participated in this week’s actual conclave to choose a new Pope — to turn to the film for insight, given its "strikingly accurate" depiction of the process. This includes Robert Francis Prevost, who has now been elected as Pope Leo XIV.

Pope Leo XIV is a gamer, it turns out. Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images. Speaking with NBC, the Pope’s older brother, John Prevost, shared details from their final conversation before the appointment. Amid discussions about Wordle and Words with Friends — yes, the new Pope is a regular player, and the brothers play these word games daily — the elder brother asked whether his sibling had watched Conclave for guidance.

"He had just finished watching Conclave," Prevost revealed. "So he already knew how to act. That’s the kind of thing we talk about — I just wanted to lighten the mood and take his mind off the coming conclave. Laugh a little."

From director Edward Berger, the BAFTA and Oscar-winning *Conclave* dives into one of the world’s most secretive and ancient traditions — the selection of a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is thrust into leadership after the sudden passing of the much-loved Pope. With the Catholic Church’s most powerful figures gathered from across the globe and locked inside the Vatican, Lawrence finds himself at the heart of a dangerous conspiracy, uncovering a secret that could threaten the very core of the Church.