#prideclave 2026

Several days late 😭 but here it is

It's hot outside, and when I went to the beach today I made this.

For today I thought I’d throw all of my queer headcanons for the Conclave cast because it’s the perfect day for it!

- Thomas is bisexual. This is pretty much confirmed in the book with the “knew what it was like to desire and to be desired, both by women and by men” line, along with having infatuations with both Sister Agnes and Vincent (Aldo too lowkey). I also think he’s non binary or under the non binary umbrella due to mentioning that he’s unhappy with his appearance and feeling like masculinity is a performance for him in the book. Would maybe use he/they if he learned you can use different pronouns.

- Vincent is pansexual. He just seems like the kind of person who values character over anything else, like thinking Thomas was the best papal candidate after being welcoming and kind to him. He’s also intersex (canon) but identifies as male.

- Aldo is gay. It feels somewhat implied to me in both the movie and book. He doesn’t show a ton of interest in women other than saying they should have more active roles in the Curia. When he and Thomas are arguing about how the first vote went, Thomas mentioned Adeyemi having the lead behind Tedesco and Aldo brought up Adeyemi’s extreme views on lgbtq individuals. That scene felt less like an ally being appalled by homophobia and more like a gay man feeling unsafe in an uncertain political climate, which I think a lot of lgbtq folks can relate to. There’s also the “your firm hand has its admirers” scene in the movie. There’s other moments in the movie and book mostly revolving his relationships with Thomas and Giulio (too many to list). I also believe he’s demirose (demiromantic & demisexual) because it seems like he’s known Thomas for decades and he has feelings for him.

- Goffredo is gay. There’s no way this man is straight. He has the same exact vibes as the homophobic gay cardinals mentioned in the closet of the Vatican book. Plus he acts like he has a crush on Thomas in the movie.

- Giulio is a trans man. This is a headcanon I’ve seen around the fandom and I like it. He’s also a Franciscan and there’s historical evidence that St Francis of Assisi, the orders patron saint, was under the trans umbrella or was at least gender non conforming (I’ll put a link to this info somewhere below). I think he’s attracted to men and non binary people but not necessarily women, based on how he acts in the film about Aldo’s mention of women having more Curia roles. Idk what label would best suit that. Achillean perhaps?

- Joseph is bisexual or pansexual. I don’t have any evidence necessarily it’s purely just vibes. I can see him having a girlfriend before he joined the priesthood. I also think he’d be the type to flirt with other Curia members to get what he wants. In short $20 is $20.

- Joshua is Achillean/MLM. He is attracted to women, evidenced by his questionable affair with Shanumi. However, I think there’s strong case to be made about him having internalized homophobia. His views on lgbtq+ are extreme according to Aldo, which echos the homophobic homosexual cardinals in the closet of the vatican book (it’s made a second appearance). I also learned that Nigeria (his home country) has very harsh anti lgbtq+ laws which could explain why he feels this way. He could be echoing the sentiment of people of power as a way to hide. I’m not sure what label specifically to use so I think Achillean works as an umbrella term.

- Ray is gay and (hey that rhymes) and possibly acespec. I think he likes men purely based on vibes and his interactions with Thomas. I could maybe see him being genderqueer as well (the lawmalley genderqueer prompt lowkey got me thinking).

- Janusz is gay. I wholeheartedly believe he was in love with the Late Holy Father.

- LHF was asexual and demiromantic. I get demiromantic vibes from him because he seemed very distrustful of everyone around him except for specific people. I think he and Janusz loved each other but LHF didn’t feel any kind of romantic connection until growing closer and learning he could be trusted. As for him being asexual, it’s purely vibes. I don’t think he ever broke his celibacy vows (neither did Janusz) but there was definitely a connection.

- Agnes is bisexual. She has sapphic vibes (she lives and works with a bunch of other women you know not all of them are straight) but I also think Joe’s her ex. Plus Isabella Rossellini admitted she was bi in an interview one time soooo bi Agnes confirmed?

- Shanumi is sapphic. I know she is attracted to men (though the relationship was a bit sketchy) but I can see her having a girlfriend and finding healing.

- Willi is bisexual. Purely based on vibes and fanart I’ve seen.

This was heavily inspired by a picture of Saint John Henry Newman and his “earthly light” Ambrose St John (pictured below).

AU where Thomas and Giulio were introduced to each other by a mutual friend (Aldo), fell in love, and adopted a child who they named Francesca (after St Francis of Assisi).

I wanted to post this sooner but life said no.

New work for Prideclave!

Ship: Sabbadin 🩵 Lawrence