Entertainment • TV Series

The Young Pope

The Young Pope is a 2016 drama miniseries created and directed by Paolo Sorrentino.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Young Pope is a 2016 drama miniseries created and directed by Paolo Sorrentino. It follows Lenny Belardo, who becomes Pope Pius XIII and upends Vatican traditions while navigating power, faith, and politics.

Premise

The series follows the early pontificate of Pius XIII, born Lenny Belardo, a young and unconventional pope from New York City. His rule is marked by conflict with Vatican institutions and a challenge to established Catholic traditions.

Production

The Young Pope was created and directed by Paolo Sorrentino as an international co-production involving European and U.S. broadcasters. It is an English-language series and was developed for Sky Atlantic, HBO, and Canal+.

Cast

Jude Law stars as Lenny Belardo/Pius XIII, and Diane Keaton plays Sister Mary, his confidante and adviser. Other credited cast members include Silvio Orlando, Javier Cámara, Scott Shepherd, Cécile De France, and Ludivine Sagnier.

Release

The series premiered in 2016, with original broadcasts on Sky Atlantic and subsequent availability on other networks and streaming services. It consists of 10 episodes and is described as a limited series.

The Young Pope was followed by The New Pope, which continued the story and was released in 2020.

Key facts

The series centers on Lenny Belardo, an American cardinal who is elected pope and takes the name Pius XIII.
It was created by Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino.
Jude Law plays the title role, with Diane Keaton as Sister Mary.
The series is a 10-episode limited/miniseries.
It was first broadcast in 2016 on Sky Atlantic, with later airings on HBO and Canal+.

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Canadian context

Canadian viewers could access the series through French-language coverage and broadcast availability in Canada, including Canal+ references in source material and later streaming availability through HBO-linked services depending on local licensing.[2][9]

Frequently asked questions

What is The Young Pope about?

It is about Lenny Belardo, who becomes Pope Pius XIII and disrupts Vatican traditions while dealing with church politics and his own private conflicts.

Who created The Young Pope?

The series was created by Paolo Sorrentino.

Who stars in The Young Pope?

Jude Law stars as Pius XIII, and Diane Keaton appears as Sister Mary.

How many episodes does it have?

The Young Pope has 10 episodes and is presented as a limited series/miniseries.

What network originally aired it?

It originally aired on Sky Atlantic, with later broadcasts on HBO and Canal+.

Was there a sequel or follow-up?

Yes. The follow-up series The New Pope was released in 2020.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Young_Pope
Supports: Premise, title, creator, network, and summary of the series.
Wikipedia (French) — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Young_Pope
Supports: Miniseries format, episode count, creator, original broadcasters, and follow-up series.
Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_young_pope/s01
Supports: 10-episode drama series, starring Jude Law and Diane Keaton, and premise.
Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-young-pope/umc.cmc.45z4jrk0216kyw9vh1eq7oyxt
Supports: 2016 release, cast, director, and series description.
Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/80095710
Supports: 2016 drama classification, cast, creator, and premise.
TVmaze — https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/20412/the-young-pope
Supports: Created by Paolo Sorrentino, episode count, status, and premiere details.
HBO Max — https://www.hbomax.com/shows/young-pope/a17c3a15-04c7-4562-a565-9f29b76c1a1c
Supports: 10-episode limited series description and release year.