The cast of papal election drama Conclave have expressed their concerns for Pope Francis, as reports continue of his critical condition.

Actors Isabella Rossellini and Sergio Castellitto, who respectively play papal housekeeper Sister Agnes and conservative cleric Cardinal Tedesco in Conclave, were speaking as the film was given the award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture by the Screen Actors Guild (Sag), an outcome that would appear to significantly boost its chances in the Oscar race.

In remarks reported by the Wrap, during the ceremony, Rossellini said: “First of all, we would like to wish Pope Francis a quick recovery.” She added later: ““We are very, very worried for our pope. We love this pope – Papa Francesco, Pope Francis. We wish him well. We wish him to recover.”

Castellitto said: “For us that live in Rome … our relationship as Italians to the pope is much closer. I repeat, I really wish him well.”

Conclave dramatises the process by which a new pope is elected, and the film’s co-star John Lithgow, who plays the machiavellian Cardinal Tremblay, acknowledged it was “timely”. “The film has ended up extremely timely … and it’s about the social organism electing a leader. And elections have become a great big, important subject of our time. With the election that took place just yesterday in Germany, these are extremely important events right now.”

Lithgow added: “You cannot help seeing Conclave and not thinking what happens when different tribes quarrel with each other trying to decide on who is their leader.”

Pope Francis was admitted to hospital on 14 February after suffering breathing difficulties. He has remained hospitalised with what has been described as “pneumonia and a complex lung infection”.