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.

Concerns over Pope Francis' health have mounted in recent years as have questions about his succession. Here's what we know.