The Young Pope Season 1 ((exclusive)) Jun 2026

Sister Mary is the nun who raised Lenny in the orphanage and whom he brings to the Vatican to serve as his chief advisor. Keaton plays her with a quiet, maternal authority and a dry wit, serving as the only person capable of challenging the Pope's ego and reminding him of his humanity. Silvio Orlando as Cardinal Voiello

At the start of Season 1, the College of Cardinals, after a lengthy and contentious conclave, elects the charismatic 47-year-old Lenny Belardo as the new Pope. He takes the name Pius XIII, becoming the youngest Pope in history and the first ever American pope. To the public, his election seems to be the product of a simple, effective media strategy implemented by the cardinals. However, as the series unfolds, it becomes clear that Pius XIII is anything but a puppet. The Young Pope Season 1

But for those willing to submit to its rhythm, The Young Pope is deeply rewarding. The season finale, "Tenth Episode," is a triumph of storytelling that recontextualizes everything that came before it. Lenny’s journey from an orphan angry at God to a figure of terrifying love is completed in a moment of visual splendor that feels genuinely earned. Sister Mary is the nun who raised Lenny

Season 1 begins in the immediate aftermath of a papal conclave. The College of Cardinals, led by the calculating Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Voiello, believes they have elected a malleable, media-friendly puppet in the 47-year-old Lenny Belardo (Jude Law). They quickly realize they have made a catastrophic mistake. He takes the name Pius XIII, becoming the

, a 10-part miniseries created and directed by Academy Award-winner Paolo Sorrentino , debuted in 2017 as a visually dazzling exploration of the Catholic Church’s inner sanctum. Starring Jude Law as the first American Pope in history, the series balances surreal dreamscapes with high-stakes political maneuvering.

The final episode of The Young Pope Season 1 is one of the most daring and talked-about finales in recent television history. After ten episodes of watching a stern, distant, and unyielding pontiff refuse to show his face to the public, the finale delivers the exact opposite of what viewers expected: Lenny giving an inspiring, heartfelt, and surprisingly positive public address about love. It was a radical shift from a series that had seemed so eager to expose the fundamental flaws of faith. IndieWire noted that the finale was "unexpectedly positive and profoundly constructive".

As the first American pope in history, his election is seen by the Vatican's cynical Secretary of State, Cardinal Voiello (Silvio Orlando), as an opportunity to control a "telegenic puppet". However, Voiello and the rest of the Curia quickly realize their mistake. The new pope is not a figurehead but a despot intent on dragging the Church back to a hardline, conservative past. He refuses to be photographed, rails against the Church's modern "part-time believers," and threatens to root out progressive elements, all while navigating the treacherous backstabbing and power struggles of the Vatican.