'The Young Pope' episode 2 recap, episode 3 spoilers: Will the Vatican be able to clean up the young pope's mess?
After an entertaining and somewhat chaotic premiere episode, the second episode of "The Young Pope" follows it up with the young pontiff, Lenny Belardo (Jude Law), in action.
In the first episode, viewers got to see Lenny's appointment as Pope Pius XIII. From being the Archbishop of New York, he had to adjust himself into his position as the newly elected Pope of the Roman Catholic faith and learn to navigate the political hallways of Vatican City. Instead, he shocks and turns the Vatican upside down with his intentions to reject both publicity and the liberal views of his predecessor.
As reported by Rolling Stone, the show's second episode focused heavily on Pope Pius XIII's preparations for his first-ever address to the faithful as the newly-elected Pope.
His Harvard-educated marketing wizard Sofia (Cecile de France) suggested distributing merchandise bearing the new Holy Father's handsome face, which Lenny rejects. Instead, he wanted to promote himself as an "Invisible Pope," a mysterious yet powerful individual who is never photographed or filmed and can only be seen by the public as a shadow or a silhouette.
Believing they could sell the "reverse hyperbole," they proceed with the plan. However, Pope Pius XIII, instead of giving a message of home, love, and optimism, goes on a tirade like an unidentified mad supervillain.
"You wanna look me in the face?" Lenny taunts a member of the audience. "Go see God first. I won't help you. I'm not gonna show you the way. Search for it. Find it. When you've found God, perhaps you will see me as well," he went on to say.
After the mess that the young pope has made, the audience of the TV drama is wondering what the eccentric and dashing Pope will do next. Will the young Pope Pius XIII clean up the mess he made, or is he intent on bringing chaos to the organized Roman Catholic religion?
According to the synopsis of "The Young Pope" episode 3, the young Pope's first address has received heavily negative reactions from the faithful who were present at the St. Peter's Square. Hence, the Vatican has set out to do some damage control. Lenny is persuaded to hold a press conference, where his counselor, Sister Mary (Diane Keaton), reads a short statement.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Angelo Voiello (Silvio Orlando), the Camerlengo and Cardinal Secretary of State is bent on putting the Pope under all restrictions to prevent further harming the strength and influence of the Roman Catholic religion.
"The Young Pope" episode 3 is scheduled to air on Sunday, Jan. 22, at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.
