New Pope Watches Conclave Movie, Plays Games While Awaiting Conclave

If you've ever been curious about how a prospective Pope spends his free time, you'll be intrigued to learn that the recently elected Pope Leo XIV, according to a close family member, enjoys activities just like many of us, such as playing games and watching movies during his downtime.

As previously reported, Edward Berger's gripping papal thriller, Conclave, captivated audiences last year. Its realistic depiction of the papal election process has even drawn the attention of real-life religious leaders, including those involved in the actual conclave this week to elect the new Pope. Among them was Robert Francis Prevost, who has now been elected as Pope Leo XIV.

Pope Leo XIV is an avid gamer, as it turns out. Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images.

In an interview with NBC, Pope Leo XIV's older brother, John Prevost, shared insights from their last conversation before Robert's appointment. The discussion included their daily gaming sessions with Wordle and Words with Friends, confirming that Pope Leo XIV is indeed a gamer. John also inquired if his brother had watched the movie Conclave for any tips on the upcoming conclave.

"He had just finished watching the movie Conclave," John revealed. "So he knew how to behave. We talk about things like that to take his mind off the stress of the conclave and just have a 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 election of a new Pope. The story follows Cardinal Lawrence, portrayed by Ralph Fiennes, who is responsible for overseeing this clandestine process following the sudden death of the beloved Pope. As the Catholic Church's most influential leaders gather from around the globe and are secluded within the Vatican, Cardinal Lawrence uncovers a conspiracy and a secret that threatens the very core of The Church.