BBC announces Secrets of the Conclave documentary
Secrets of the Conclave - a rare glimpse into the ancient ritual - will air on BBC Two and iPlayer.
BBC Two and iPlayer have commissioned a documentary that spills the secrets of the conclave.
The hour-long documentary delves into the ancient ritual - a private, secret meeting of the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church to elect a new pope - following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88 on April 21.
The 2025 papal conclave - formed of 133 cardinal electors - started in the Sistine Chapel on May 7 and ended on May 8, with the election of 70 year old Pope Leo XIV (Robert Francis Prevost).
Daisy Scalchi, BBC Head of Religion and Ethics for Television, said: "Whether you loved the book, the movie or neither, this insight into the process of a conclave promises to be an eye-opening, world-first glimpse into one of the most important religious rituals on earth."
Secrets of the Conclave - a Wag Entertainment and Stand By Me production - features exclusive footage from the Vatican and interviews with cardinals who attended to cast their vote.
On May 7, the 133 cardinal electors entered the Sistine Chapel, took the oath of secrecy and conducted one round of voting.
As no pope was elected that day, black smoke bellowed from the chimney in the evening.
The following day, the cardinals returned and held two rounds of voting in the morning - resulting in no pope being elected - and after a fourth ballot in the afternoon, white smoke appeared from the chimney in the evening, signaling the two-thirds majority needed for a new pope to be elected.
Eliya Arman, Executive Producer, Wag Entertainment, said: "As filmmakers, we felt it was an extraordinary privilege to hear from the cardinals themselves about what truly happened inside the Sistine Chapel.
Their openness allowed us to illuminate the humanity behind a moment of immense historic and spiritual importance, giving audiences a glimpse into a world usually hidden from view."
Simona Ercolani, CEO and Creative Director of Stand by Me, added: "It was a great honour to recount the Conclave through the voices of the Cardinals.
"Thanks to our collaboration with Vatican Media, we were able to discover how 133 cardinals from around the world, guided by faith and common sense, gathered to elect the new Pope: a moment very different from how one might imagine it.
"Thanks to the BBC, this story will reach a new audience and offer them an authentic glimpse into a historic event in which the sacred and the human are at the centre."
The BBC is yet to announce an air date for Secrets of the Conclave.
