After watching the movie The Two Popes, I find myself feeling a strange tug at my heart and reflecting on many things.

While the plot doesn't have any major twists typical of Netflix films, it's remarkable how the conversations between the two elderly clergymen can touch the heart. This film is accessible even to those who are not well-versed in Catholicism, presenting a universal story about faith and humanity.

At the center of the film are two popes. One is Pope Benedict XVI, who values tradition, and the other is Pope Francis, who emphasizes change and communication. The movie begins at a time when Benedict XVI is contemplating his resignation, and prior to that, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who would become Francis, is invited to the Vatican. The two have different theological inclinations and ways of life. Initially, they are wary of each other and struggle to understand one another. Their conversations are cautious and sometimes tense.

What makes the film truly compelling is the process by which these two men, shedding their grand titles of pope, gradually come to face each other as human beings. Benedict XVI appears perfect but carries deep guilt and loneliness within. Francis, while seeming bright and down-to-earth, lives with regrets and wounds from past choices. Their discussions about music, soccer, and sharing pizza resonate more deeply than any sermon.

The reason this film tugs at the heart is that it quietly conveys the message that differing beliefs do not necessitate enmity. Rather than teaching right from wrong, it shows how to listen and how to forgive. Particularly, the scene where Benedict XVI acknowledges his limitations and steps back prompts a reconsideration of what responsibility means over power. Francis's vision for the church is also realistic in that it is not about grand revolutions but about approaching people with humility.

After watching the film, a peculiar aftertaste lingers, partly because both popes depicted in the movie are now deceased. Benedict XVI passed away in 2022, and Pope Francis has also recently passed. The fact that the characters who were alive and conversing in the film have now become historical figures adds a poignant layer to the movie. It feels almost like a recorded video, giving the impression of eavesdropping on the last conversations of an era.

The Two Popes is closer to a life film than a religious one. It shows that as we age, our beliefs can become softer rather than harder. It quietly speaks to the importance of having the courage to acknowledge that one can be wrong, the attitude of listening to others until the end, and the process of forgiving oneself. It's not flashy, but it leaves a warm feeling in the heart after watching.

I believe that even after some time, watching it again will evoke different emotions.