Spoiler alert! Let's talk about 'Conclave' and the movie's shocking ending

Spoiler alert! This story includes details of the shocking twist at the end of the papal thriller "Conclave" (in theaters now), so look away if you plan to see the movie first.

"Conclave" is less a movie about the Catholic Church than it is a thrilling procedural in the vein of legendary tick-tock epics ― think "All the President's Men" about the 1972 Watergate break-in and coverup ― that were long admired by its director, Edward Berger.

But "Conclave" differs in one significant way: Its shocking ending, which echoes the 2016 Robert Harris thriller on which it's based. For anyone who's a fan of the 1992 crime thriller "The Crying Game," the discovery toward the end of the movie left moviegoers gasping, at least at one festival screening several weeks back.

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Despite the out-of-left-field ending of "Conclave," Berger says the big reveal is not meant to be the movie's centerpiece.

"You certainly don’t want to spoil things for people, but whether or not that (ending) is a secret is not that important," he tells USA TODAY. "The movie doesn’t hinge on that reveal, because every character has their twists and surprises."

How does the plot set up the ending of 'Conclave'?

In the movie and the book, the 200-plus College of Cardinals has gathered at the Vatican after the death of the pope in order to elect his successor. The process is called a conclave, and is steeped in ritual and tradition.

As the voting begins inside the solemn Sistine Chapel, a number of high-profile cardinals are vying to be the new leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, some making cases for themselves quite stridently, including Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) and Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati). One cardinal who does not want the post is Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), dean of the College of Cardinals, despite encouragement by Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci).

Who is Cardinal Benitez in 'Conclave'?

The wild card who ultimately upends the conclave is the mysterious and contemplative Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz), who arrives late to the proceedings. Although he appears to hail from Latin America, Benitez explains to his fellow cardinals that he has been posted, apparently by the pope himself, to a variety of far-flung and usually dangerous place. Most recently he has been ministering to Catholics under siege in Afghanistan.

Benitez repeatedly votes for Lawrence, who shares his growing anger at this gesture given his own questions about faith and desire to perhaps even leave the church. But Benitez persists, explaining that Lawrence has the virtues necessary to lead the faithful, unlike some of their fellow cardinals who seem to want the job for its power and status.

Why does Cardinal Lawrence investigate Cardinal Benitez in 'Conclave'?

Cardinal Benitez comes under the scrutiny of Cardinal Lawrence, who is running the conclave. Lawrence is puzzled by unearthed documents suggesting the late pope had approved Benitez's trip from Afghanistan to Switzerland for a medical procedure.

This fact jumps to the fore after a series of literal and philosophical explosions rock the cardinals, and days into the conclave they finally and overwhelmingly elect their new leader: Cardinal Benitez. Lawrence is happy about the result, but is concerned that perhaps the medical trip hints that the newly elected pope is ill and won't last long. In secret, he presses his direct reports to dig into the details of that trip.

What is the shocking ending of 'Conclave'?

If you've made it this far, and still haven't seen the movie, you clearly want to know what happens at the end of "Conclave." So be it.

Lawrence interrupts Benitez's preparations for being announced as the new pope, and demands he be told why Benitez was given a trip to Switzerland, even though he never made the journey. Lawrence thinks perhaps Benitez has a terminal illness, but instead is told the procedure would have removed his uterus. Benitez is intersex, having reproductive parts that don't fit the traditional definition of male or female.

"What are you?" Lawrence asks.

Benitez smiles and answers: "I am as God made me."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Conclave' ending explained: Let's deconstruct that big twist