HBO’s new dramatic series The Young Pope will wrap up its season one run in February 2017 with the show’s finale airing on Monday, February 13th. The Young Pope will continue the pattern of airing new episodes in the Sunday and Monday 9pm ET/PT timeslots, with four hour-long episodes set to debut in February. The 10-episode limited series was directed by Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty) and stars Jude Law as Pope Pius XIII and Diane Keaton as Sister Mary. The cast also includes Silvio Orlando as Cardinal Angelo Voiello, Scott Shepherd as Cardinal Andrew Dussolier, Cécile de France as Sofia Dubois, Javier Cámara as Monsignor Bernardo Alonso Gutierrez, Ludivine Sagnier as Ester Aubry, Toni Bertorelli as Cardinal Caltanissetta, and James Cromwell as Cardinal Michael Spencer.
The Plot: The Young Pope tells the story of Lenny Belardo, aka Pius XIII, the first American Pope in history. Young and charming, his election seems to be the result of a simple yet effective media strategy on the part of the College of Cardinals. But appearances can be deceptive – above all, in the place where people have chosen the great mystery of God as the compass guiding their existence. That place is the Vatican and those people are the leaders of the Church. And Pius XIII proves to be the most mysterious and contradictory of them all. Shrewd and naïve, ironic and pedantic, primeval and cutting-edge, doubting and resolute, melancholy and ruthless, Pius XIII tries to cross the endless river of human solitude to find a God he can give to mankind. And to himself.
The Young Pope February 2017 Episodes:
Episode #7: “Seventh Episode”
Debut date: SUNDAY, FEB. 5 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Concerned by negative publicity surrounding the suicide of a would-be priest, Voiello (Silvio Orlando) ponders new and familiar scenarios to take down Lenny (Jude Law). Sister Mary (Diane Keaton) struggles with her conscience as Lenny is distracted by the possibility of a family reunion. In the disturbing aftermath of a social event in Rome, Dussolier (Scott Shepherd) informs the pope he wants to return to Honduras.
Written by Paolo Sorrentino and Umberto Contarello; directed by Paolo Sorrentino.
Episode #8: “Eighth Episode”
Debut date: MONDAY, FEB. 6 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Lenny (Jude Law) and Sister Mary (Diane Keaton) deal with a shared loss in their own peculiar ways. Returning to the Vatican, Sofia (Cécile De France) suggests that the new pope embark on his first trip abroad: a visit to Africa in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Sister Antonia’s (Milvia Marigliano) much-heralded “Village of Goodness.” Lenny is heartened by a visit from his favorite author, and dismayed by the sudden departure of a friend.
Written by Paolo Sorrentino and Umberto Contarello; directed by Paolo Sorrentino.
Episode #9: “Ninth Episode”
Debut date: SUNDAY, FEB. 12 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Lenny (Jude Law) and Sister Mary (Diane Keaton) relive a momentous incident from the past as the pope faces the prospect of an unthinkable loss in the present. In New York, Gutierrez (Javier Cámara) faces daunting odds, including the threat of blackmail, in his ongoing investigation of Kurtwell (Guy Boyd), a powerful archbishop suspected of longtime sexual misconduct.
Written by Paolo Sorrentino and Umberto Contarello; directed by Paolo Sorrentino.
Episode #10: “Tenth Episode” (finale)
Debut date: MONDAY, FEB. 13 (9:00-10:05 p.m.)
Reunited with a changed Gutierrez (Javier Cámara) at the Vatican, the pope (Jude Law) considers an appropriate course of action regarding Archbishop Kurtwell (Guy Boyd). Father Tomasso (Marcello Romolo) gets a promotion, while Sister Mary (Diane Keaton) takes on a new role. The prospect of a reconciliation leads the young pope to make an unexpected change of travel plans – and policy.
Written by Paolo Sorrentino and Umberto Contarello; directed by Paolo Sorrentino.
