A Critically Acclaimed HBO Collection Predicted The First American Pope, With Chaotic Outcomes

When Pope Francis was elected in 2013, the go-to fictional work for Vatican intrigue was “The Godfather Half III.” The ultimate movie in Francis Ford Coppola’s crime saga drew inspiration from the sudden (some say suspicious) dying of the newly elected Pope John Paul I in 1978, in addition to the Banco Ambrosiano scandal of the early Nineteen Eighties. There was nothing suspicious about Pope Francis’ choice as the pinnacle of the Catholic Church, however the funny-hatted fellas can serve for many years (Pope John Paul II held this holiest of holy positions for 27 years). So, when there is a new election, it is enjoyable to dive into darkish papal intrigue.

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For no matter motive, although, there was a surge in Pope fiction over the past 12 years. When Pope Francis fell sick earlier in 2025, there was likewise a renewed curiosity in Edward Berger’s critically acclaimed movie adaptation of Robert Harris’ novel “Conclave.” All of the sudden, a big chunk of the general public (together with non-Catholics) had an inside-baseball understanding of how the number of a brand new pope works. Should you’re on social media, you already know full effectively that this has resulted in a seemingly unending flood of “Conclave” references over the previous couple of months. These memes have solely tripled since Pope Francis handed away on April 21.

Immediately, as white smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, folks everywhere in the world parked themselves in entrance of their viewing gadgets and eagerly awaited the naming of his model new holiness. The massive winner was Pope Leo XIV aka 69-year-old Robert Francis Prevost. From Chicago. That is proper, for the primary time within the historical past of the Catholic Church, we have got a (possible) Cubs fan heading up the Vatican.

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We’re nonetheless studying about Pope Leo XIV’s views (we do know that he criticized U.S. Vice President JD Vance after his insensitive go to to the Vatican final month and expressed outrage over the homicide of George Floyd in 2020), however the novelty of an American Pope is sweeping everywhere in the nation. We lastly acquired one! Apparently, the very thought of an American pope was thought-about wild sufficient to function the idea for an HBO collection starring Jude Legislation 9 years in the past. How does this fiction measure as much as our actuality?

Hopefully, Pope Leo XIV is nothing like Pope Pius XIII from Paolo Sorrentino’s “The Younger Pope.” As portrayed by Legislation, Pius (aka Lenny Belardo from New York Metropolis) is a power-hungry pope who doesn’t consider the frequent individuals are match to put eyes on His Holiness. He assumes management of the Vatican’s political affairs and installs Sister Mary (Diane Keaton), the nun who raised him after he was deserted by his “hippie” mother and father on the age of 11, to defend him from his Vatican rivals. Finally, he turns into so highly effective that he can sway the election of Italy’s Prime Minister. He’s on the verge of turning into a one-man world juggernaut on the finish of season 1 when a wild plot twist throws all the things into doubt.

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Season 2, titled “The New Pope,” is even bolder in its plotting. I will not spoil something, however you need to know that each seasons obtained raves for Sorrentino’s gleefully soapy storytelling and Legislation’s outstanding efficiency.

So if you happen to’re in search of papal suspense, you not should get your repair from “The Godfather Half III” (which Coppola recut in 2020 because the superior “The Godfather Coda: The Loss of life of Michael Corleone”). Pope Lenny is right here to point out you ways a brash New Yorker would throw his weight across the Vatican. Do not mess with my man. He is popin’ right here!