A young, disruptive American cardinal ascends to the papacy, shaking the Vatican to its core.
In short: When the papal conclave fails to elect a clear frontrunner, they settle for a compromise candidate: Lenny Belardo. Taking the name Pius XIII, this young American pontiff immediately rejects tradition, shrouds himself in darkness, and declares war on the established political order of the Holy See, leaving the cardinals scrambling.
Created and directed by Paolo Sorrentino, The Young Pope debuted in 2016 as a satirical drama. It marked a historic moment for the Venice International Film Festival, which screened the first two episodes out of competition—the first time a television series had ever been included in the festival's program. While initially marketed as a limited series, its success eventually led to a follow-up, The New Pope, which began production in late 2018.
The narrative follows the rise of Lenny Belardo, a former archbishop of New York, who assumes the papacy as Pius XIII. His tenure begins with radical defiance; he insists that the faithful are unworthy of seeing his face and demands absolute control over the Secretariat of State. To consolidate his power, he appoints his childhood guardian, a religious sister who raised him in an orphanage, as his primary advisor. He also threatens to seize the assets of religious orders, specifically the Franciscans, unless they submit to his authority.
As senior cardinals attempt to contain his influence, the Pope’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic. He bullies the Italian prime minister and threatens to weaponize the Church’s influence to suppress voter turnout in national elections. Behind this facade of authoritarianism, however, lies a deeper psychological struggle. The series reveals that the Pope suffers from profound depression, with his volatile actions stemming from a lifelong desire to confront the parents who abandoned him during his youth.
The production, a collaboration between Sky Atlantic, HBO, and Canal+, earned critical recognition, including two nominations at the 69th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in 2017. It holds the distinction of being the first Italian television series to receive such a nomination, cementing its place as a significant, albeit unconventional, entry in modern prestige television.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Young Pope
- Also: Wikidata — The Young Pope · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — The Young Pope: A Tale of Filmmaking · CC0
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