Popes " Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce | Full English Biographical Drama | Full Movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1phuxgJ-NN4
Movie Name: Popes
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce, Juan Minujín
Directed by: Fernando Meirelles
Written by: Anthony McCarten
Produced by: Dan Lin, Jonathan Eirich, Tracey Seaward
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Language: English
Here are 5 quotes from the transcript in your document that strongly reflect the Enlightenment theme of reason, self-reflection, and moral dialogue in The Two Popes (Anthony Hopkins as Benedict XVI, Jonathan Pryce as Bergoglio):
1. On Walls and Mercy
“You talk about walls as if they're bad things. A house is built of walls, strong walls.”
“Did Jesus build walls? His face is a face of mercy. The bigger the sinner, the warmer the welcome. Mercy is the dynamite that blows down walls.”
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Theme: Reason and empathy challenge rigid tradition; mercy as transformative moral force.
2. On the Church and Moral Failure
“We built walls around us. And all the time, the real danger was inside… We knew there were priests, bishops, great men of the Church who preyed on children… and what did we do?”
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Theme: Honest self-examination; confronting internal moral decay rather than hiding behind institutional authority.
3. On Change and the Nature of Life
“Life… the life He gave us… is all change. Nothing is static in nature or the universe. Not even God.”
“God does not change.”
“Yes, He does. He moves toward us. I am the way, the truth, and the life. Where should we find Him if He is always moving on the journey?”
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Theme: Enlightenment belief in dynamic understanding of faith and the universe, merging theology with philosophical reasoning.
4. On Leadership and Ego
“The most important qualification for any leader is not wanting to be leader. Plato.”
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Theme: Classical philosophy and rational ethics guiding leadership, invoking Enlightenment respect for reason and humility in governance.
5. On Sin, Confession, and Responsibility
“Sin is a wound, not a stain. It needs to be healed, to be treated. Forgiveness is not enough… Confession cleans the sinner’s soul; it does not help the victim.”
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Theme: Rational moral reasoning—justice and healing require more than ritual; ethics must serve human reality, not just doctrine.
These moments show the Enlightenment thread: the film questions static dogma, advocates introspection, moral responsibility, and the use of reason and dialogue to pursue truth and reform.
Here are 5 additional quotes from your transcript that highlight the conflict between tradition and reform in The Two Popes, which reinforces the Enlightenment theme of reason challenging rigid authority:
1. On Celibacy and Church Tradition
“On married priests, I was misquoted. I said celibacy can be a blessing. It can also be a curse.”
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Theme: Challenges centuries-old tradition with practical, human-centered reasoning.
2. On Institutional Inertia
“It seems to me that your church, my church, our church is moving in directions I can no longer condone… or not moving at all when the time demands movement.”
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Theme: Calls for reform when tradition becomes stagnation; echoes Enlightenment critiques of institutions that resist progress.
3. On Popularity versus Papal Authority
“Whenever I try to be myself, people don’t seem to like me very much. But there’s no option, since I am obliged to be Pope.”
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Theme: Tension between human authenticity and institutional duty, revealing the burden of hierarchical tradition.
4. On Economic and Social Justice
“Just as the commandment ‘Thou shalt not kill’ sets a clear limit to safeguard life, so today we must also say: Thou shalt not to an economy of exclusion and inequality which idolizes money.”
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Theme: A shift from doctrinal focus to social ethics—aligning the Church with Enlightenment-era humanist and social justice concerns.
5. On Leadership and Change
“The Church needs to change… and you could be that change.”
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Theme: A direct invitation to embrace reform, resonating with Enlightenment ideals that reason and conscience can drive institutional evolution.
These quotes capture the core dramatic tension:
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Benedict XVI embodies tradition, hierarchy, and dogmatic continuity.
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Bergoglio (later Pope Francis) embodies reform, moral pragmatism, and empathetic leadership.
Their dialogue becomes a metaphorical Enlightenment conversation: reasoned debate, self-examination, and the pursuit of truth over rigid authority.
If you like, I can now craft a concise thematic summary of The Two Popes as an Enlightenment allegory using these 10 quotes as evidence.
