Critic Reviews

• Peter Howell, Toronto Star

  Always the star of his movies, even when he shouldn't be, the atheist Moretti gets caught up in his own papal bull. But Piccoli's blessed empathy prevails.

• Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

  We Have a Pope takes its shots at the institution of the Catholic Church, but this is by no means a scathing satire. It's more of a character study, insightful and nuanced, about a man grappling with a profound sense of inadequacy, questioning himself.

• Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader

  Though skeptical, the film isn't at all mean-spirited.

• Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

  "We Have a Pope" is a nuanced, moving and profoundly humane exploration of doubt, faith, weakness and resolve.

• Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

  "We Have a Pope" has great heart.

• Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

  On the surface, this Italian dramedy about a troubled cardinal reluctant to accept his election to the papacy is a likable, understated farce. Look closer and you'll see that it has serious issues on its mind.

• Jeff Beck, We Got This Covered

  While We Have a Pope contains an interesting idea for a film, it ultimately fails to portray the struggle Cardinal Melville is going through, which is the centerpiece of the entire film.

• Jeff Beck, Examiner.com

  This is certainly a great idea for a film, it just needs better execution, less stalling for and wasting of time, and a better means of showing the difficult period that Cardinal Melville is going through.

• Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

  To its great credit, just before the credits, We Have A Pope slips away from its droll dramedy and offers a sharp anticlimax--a pointed stab at Catholicism now. The declaration of its title turns out to be the emptiest statement of all.

• Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

  While Moretti is as secular as the character he plays in the film, he gives us a papal portrait that's nuanced and counterintuitive; we're used to the humanity of popes evinced as Borgian lust and avarice, not as self-doubt and humility.

• Robert Denerstein, Movie Habit

  Vatican-based comedy could have been sharper

• Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

  This is rich material that Moretti mines for both superficial absurdity and deep pathos. But he refuses to forge an orthodox happy ending, let alone a tinny satire.

• Shawn Levy, Oregonian

  The premise is truly inspired, the settings are handsome, and the 86-year-old Piccoli is superb in the role of a reluctant Vicar of Christ, his doubts and hopes and fears playing across his face like clouds.

• Kelly Vance, East Bay Express

  Are we more fascinated by a peek inside the Vatican walls or by this portrait of a humble man who would rather watch a Chekhov play than pontificate?

• Mike Scott, Times-Picayune

  It isn't quite a religious experience, but it is a sweet one. In other words: We have a charmer.

Read all 15 critic reviews