The New Pope : Season | 1 Episode 1

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.

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 New Pope : Season 1 Episode 1

Voiello's bitter rival, also played by Orlando. The episode ends with Francis II’s sudden death—implied

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. Voiello's bitter rival, also played by Orlando

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.

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