In the series premiere of The New Pope (the follow-up to The Young Pope ), the Vatican is thrown into chaos as Pope Pius XIII remains in a coma. This guide covers the key events, characters, and stylistic choices from Season 1, Episode 1.
After a deadlocked conclave between Voiello and his doppelganger, , Voiello engineers a tactical vote for a supposedly malleable candidate: Cardinal Viglietti . Taking the name Pope Francis II , Viglietti unexpectedly becomes a radical reformer, opening the Vatican to refugees and demanding the Cardinals surrender their personal wealth.
The shadowy Ambassador of the Holy See who provides "expository clarity" and is linked to Francis II’s sudden demise. The New Pope : Season 1 Episode 1
Mostly seen comatose, though he remains the central figure of the show's cult-like devotion.
The short-lived pope whose radical Franciscan humility threatens the Vatican elite. In the series premiere of The New Pope
The Machiavellian Secretary of State trying to maintain control through a puppet pope.
Introduced briefly as the potential moderate replacement for the next conclave. Viewing Guide & Highlights The New Pope Review: Season 1 Episode 1 - Tell-Tale TV Taking the name Pope Francis II , Viglietti
The episode ends with Francis II’s sudden death—implied to be an assassination—and a comatose Lenny Belardo moving his finger for the first time.