What happens after a pope dies? Many are asking this as the 88-year-old pontiff has been in the hospital since Feb. 14.

Conclave,” an Oscar nominee, has provided a peek at the Vatican’s secret rituals at a time when the faithful are praying that life will not imitate art.

Like his predecessors, Pope Francis was selected using an age-old method -- a system known as the Papal conclave.

"Conclave is packed with unexpected twists and its final reveal is one viewers will never see coming, an increasingly rare occurrence in modern movie-making and the mark of an impeccably crafted thriller," Entertainment Weekly 's critic raved in their review.

Understanding what a papal conclave is will grant you insights into the sacred Roman Catholic Church tradition. Learn more here.