That the Ewan McGregor character murdered the Pope and Cardinals and stole the anti-matter and threatened to destroy the Vatican just so he could save the Vatican and Cardinals and everybody would think it was some sort of miracle and appoint him the next Pope? I didn't read the book, but his master plan was to become the next Pope, despite the fact he was about 30 years too young to become Pope the traditional way.
shareSo, what if Tom Hanks had just said no? "Let them blow it up... I don't care. Let them kill the cardinals... whatever."
Well, then, the only way for Ewan McGregor's plan to work would be for him to "find" the bomb himself and pull some heroic act to save the Vatican... just like in the movie ending. Otherwise, the Vatican is destroyed, thousands are killed, and he does NOT become Pope.
So, it would seem to me that the Tom Hanks character is completely superfluous... very much like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Old post, but I thought I would address one of your points. You say >>>but his master plan was to become the next Pope, despite the fact he was about 30 years too young to become Pope the traditional way. <<<
Do you think there is an age requirement to be Pope? There is not. Upon the death of the pope (or his retirement, as Benedict did) the College of Cardinals convenes and chooses a new pope. While, traditionally, the new pope is chosen from their number, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO THAT EFFECT. The new pope does not even have to be a priest. Any good, Catholic man is technically eligible. Upon election, he would be ordained before being consecrated as pope.
The Camerlengo was completely eligible to be elected (well, ignoring his totally immoral plan; but the members wouldn't have known about that.).