In the wake of the real-life election of Pope Leo XIV, streaming numbers have increased forpapal-themed films such asConclaveandThe Two Popes, helping to contextualize a groundbreaking historical event that has just unfolded. The secret regarding the Catholic Church’s selection process has made its depiction, fictional or otherwise, a fascinating proceeding to depict in a compelling dramatic way. However, one of the most interesting precedents set by the election of Leo XIV is that he became the first American to be elected Pope. While this is a groundbreaking historical event,the notion of an American ascending to the highest rank within the Catholic Church was explored in the underrated HBO miniseriesThe Young Pope.
Directed in its entirety byPaolo Sorrentino, the Academy Award-winning director behindThe Great Beauty,The Young PopestarredJude Lawas Lenny Belardo,a young cardinal from New York City who is named Pope Pius XIII in a surprising decision. Given Sorrentino’s cinematic experienceon such modern masterpieces asThis Must Be The PlaceandYouth, it’s unsurprising thatThe Young Popepushes the boundaries of television, and often feels like an extended film. While some of its stylistic influences may be too significant for casual viewers,The Young Popeis able to address many modern concerns of the Catholic Churchthrough the perspective of a unique character.
What Is ‘The Young Pope’ About?
The Young Popeexplores the repercussions of a strange and divisive election, as the Catholic Church is currentlyin the midst of a bitter political feud, in which it must decide how progressive it wants to be in the impending decades. While Lenny has no personal ambitions to take on the position of Pope, he is essentially installed as a compromise candidate in order to appease both sides. While the reformers and traditionalists both expect that Pius will be susceptible to their influence, they are shocked when he begins striking out on his own and makes radical claims about the power that comes with his highly coveted position. Although at first Pius’ action makes him seem like a ruthless and potentially dangerous dictator, he begins to perform a series of incredible acts of healing that some perceive to be “miracles.”
The Young Popeexplores the power and responsibility that come with the office, as it’s a position that impacts a very significant percentage of the global population. Even though Pius’ responsibility is only to direct the faith andmake interpretations of God’s will, he does have enough influence to form relationships with critical political figures; between a meeting with the Prime Minister of Italy and a greater stake within the governmental makeup of the Vatican, Pius proves to be more interested in the political bodies that surround the Church than any other leader within its history. Although it’s possible that such dense, realistic material could become dull if depicted in a very procedural manner,The Young Popeis surprisingly entertaining due to Sorrentino’s sharp direction. In addition to the beautiful visuals,The Young Popefeatures an eclectic soundtrack that includes everything fromJimi HendrixtoMarilyn Manson.
The Young Popefeaturesone of the best performances of Law’s career, which is no faint praise when consideringhow many excellent films he has appeared insince his breakout in the late 1990s. While Law is no stranger to playing charismatic, slick figures of authority,The Young Popegave him the opportunity to play an emotionally closed-off character who is in fear of showing any signs of vulnerability. Pius initially assumes that there should be distance between the Pope and his subjects, as the followers of Catholicism need a leader who appears fearless to guide them in the wake of turbulent global events. However, Pius steadily realizes that his mortality is his greatest asset and that showcasing his humanity will allow his subjects to connect with him on a greater emotional level.
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‘The Young Pope’ Explores Issues of Modern Faith
The Young Popeexamines the process of modernization within the Church, which has been a controversial topic that has affected many of the recent Popes. While it is evident that the Catholic Church needs to evolve in order to be more accepting and address some of the recent abuse scandals, it can be challenging to make significant changes to an institution that has existed for sucha significant portion of recorded history.Although Pius is often swift in his decisions, as he decries many cardinals and makes shocking executive orders, it’s a response to the state of stagnation that has caused the Church to feel so regressive in recent years. However,The Young Popedoes not imply that Pius’ approach is the most effective one; by openly disparaging other high-ranking officials, Pius has developed the idea that the Church has become disorganized.
The Young Popeleaves much of its plot open to interpretation, allowing the viewer to determine how “divine” Pius actually is. While it was a miniseries that concluded perfectly, Sorrentino returned todevelop the follow-up seriesThe New Pope, which followed the election of Pope John Paul III (John Malkovich), who is instilled after Pius suffers a health crisis. While it contains the attention-to-detail and erratic stylism that madeThe Young Popeso successful,The New Popeis more heartwarming, as it explores the potential that the Church has to have a tangible impact on struggling communities. A storyline involving Paul and Pius joining forces to aid in an international crisis is certainly a more optimistic depiction of the Church and its capabilities than anything that Sorrentino had previously depicted.
There’s never been a television seriesquite likeThe Young Pope, as faith has often been a challenging issue to discuss on screen. While it captures the complex nature of politics in a manner similar toVeeporThe West Wing,The Young Popealso has a strong component of surrealism and existentialism that could draw comparison toTwin Peaks. Regardless of one’s personal religious affiliations,The Young Popeis a totally unique achievement, and one that succeeds in its goal of inspiring interesting conversations.
The Young Pope
