Lenny Belardo (Jude Law) is now the youngest pope. He's going to reveal the secrets of the church, but his own past is under scrutiny as well. The Secretary of State, Angelo Voiello (Silvio Orlando), has no progress with his investigation of the pope's past, as his servant fails to reveal any potentially harmful gossip. As for Lenny's present policy, he intends to answer letters from children, but only after he takes care of a captured kangaroo, setting the creature free.
The storyline introduces Lenny's old friend, Cardinal Andrew Dussolier (Scott Shepherd) who was also taken care of by Sister Mary (Diane Keaton) in the orphanage. The cardinal is frustrated with his position because there is no potential for growth. He never imagined Lenny would become a pope, in contrast to Sister Mary's expectations. His intention to be involved in Lenny's policy in the Vatican may bring more tension to the plot. There's a stroke of a competition between them, promising an interesting development of the plot.
Angelo Voiello, introduces the Vatican's marketing director, Sofia (Cécile De France), to the pope, worried about possible troubles with their cooperation. Indeed, Lenny begins their conversation in a bold manner, diminishing the importance of her Harvard degree and making an example of how he can treat someone he doesn't respect. Sofia asks Lenny to allow his personal photoshoot for the new designs of the Vatican merchandise, planning to expand offering with expensive handmade craftsmanship, including his pictures on the materials. Her ambitious plans fail to impress the pope, as he refuses to be a branding tool, considering such activities as a symbol of decline. The pope is intended to be invisible, a dark shadow of someone who doesn't even exist. As Sofia tries to argue with Lenny, he leaves no chances for compromise, saying the most important artists (for example, Daft Punk – yes) don't let themselves be photographed. Here lies the pope's brilliant idea to become a ghost, and Sofia eventually likes it.
The pope's relationship with Sister Mary remains a mystery, as the audience witnesses their conversations in which he stops Sister Mary every time she wants to object to his actions or raise some old memories. During a meeting with the confessor, Lenny finds out Cardinal Ozolins (Vladimir Bibic) is spreading rumors that Sister Mary is the real pope. It's quite a reason for Lenny to initiate his replacement. From this point, Lenny chooses to act as independently as possible, preventing Sister Mary from having say in his decisions. Lenny meets the prefect for the Congregation for the Clergy, Assente (Maurizio Lombardi), asking whether he voted for him in the conclave. After receiving the negative answer, Lenny exposes the prefect's homosexual orientation of the prefect with his next question.
Meanwhile, Sister Mary follows Voiello to see him visiting a child with disabilities, whose identity is yet to be known. The incident makes her more sympathetic to Voiello. Sister Mary's sympathy grows stronger as she becomes familiar with Voiello's notes for the pope's official address, which are full of love and compassion. To no surprise, the pope blocks any chance for these notes to be seriously considered. He finds these notes to lack grit – the lack of quality he would never associate himself with. He will soon deliver his first official address which won't consist of love and sympathy.
Later, the pope visits Cardinal Michael Spencer (James Cromwell), his teacher, to thank him for the mentorship and offer a position of the new prefect. Their conversation goes in the opposite direction, with the cardinal blaming Lenny for making a deal in order to take his place, and states he won't accept anything less than the pope's position for himself. The cardinal insists he's going to take over the next conclave, because he can rule the obscure games that define the winner. Apparently, there's no chance Lenny could appease Michael – he's all alone now since he lost his mentor. Lenny later tries to find answers about his parents, appearing on the doorstep of Sister Mary's place. He reveals he doesn't see God because he couldn't find his mother and father. But Sister Mary knows for sure – Lenny is a part of the God's plan, a central part. It's hard for Lenny to believe he can implement this plan in its full force, because he doesn't trust anyone, because he still needs love.
He's almost there, on the balcony at Saint Peter's Basilica, while thousands of people are waiting for him to come out. He appears, face obscured, to say that he has no intention of being closer to people, because he chooses God – and he will wait for complete and exclusive compliance and freedom from anything that isn't God. "Twenty-four hours a day your minds and hearts filled only with God. There's no room for anything else. No room for free will…liberty…emancipation," he cries to the people. He encourages them to search their way to God. The episode ends with Voiello desperately crying and pleading for the disabled child to help him with atonement. A sense of love penetrates the episode, leaving those left without this feeling on the edge of losing their faith.
The Young Pope" airs on HBO, Sundays and Mondays at 9 p.m.
Reach Staff Reporter Mariia Kovaleva here.
Annenberg Media