Benitez declines a hysterectomy arranged by the late Pope, declaring 'I am as God made me,' and the protagonist Cardinal Lawrence keeps the secret, allowing the intersex character to become Pope Innocent XIV. This twist directly challenges Catholic doctrine on biological sex, priesthood eligibility, and gender norms, framing acceptance of non-binary biology as compassionate and divinely ordained. The film deviates from the source novel to foreground identity politics over traditional Church structures, portraying traditionalist cardinals such as Tedesco as bigoted extremists while elevating progressive figures and doubt as virtues. This deliberate shift makes the intersex identity the foundational resolution and moral endorsement of the story rather than an incidental detail. Significant conservative backlash from figures including Bishop Barron and Megyn Kelly has highlighted the 'woke' messaging on gender and inclusion, underscoring how the production prioritizes ideological messaging over fidelity to the original premise or balanced depiction of ecclesiastical traditions.