The New Pope : Season 1 Episode 1 Apr 2026

The Machiavellian Secretary of State trying to maintain control through a puppet pope.

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 New Pope : 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 Machiavellian Secretary of State trying to maintain

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