The New Pope : Season 1 Episode 1 Direct

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.

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. In the series premiere of The New 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 Mostly seen comatose, though he remains the central

Nine months after his sudden heart attack, (Lenny Belardo) remains comatose, while a cult of followers gathers outside his hospital, treating him as a living saint. Worried about the rise of "Pius-idolatry," the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Voiello , moves to elect a new pope.

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.