The Vatican is associated with many things. The home of the Catholic Church, it is a profoundly spiritual place. But the popes and cardinals who have ruled the Church also wield enormous power. These five TV shows and movies dramatise both the corruption and the spirituality.
1. The Two Popes
The Two Popes came out in 2019. It’s a fictionalised account of the relationship between Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (who would become Pope Francis) leading up to Benedict’s resignation and Bergoglio’s election.
This critically acclaimed film is a must-watch as the Vatican prepares to bury the much-loved Pope Francis. Anthony Hopkins plays Pope Benedict XVI, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. Meanwhile, Jonathan Pryce is Pope Francis. The film also received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
2. The Borgias
The Borgias were a powerful family in Renaissance Europe. In this TV show, Rodrigo Borgia assumes the papacy. But his motivations aren’t so much spiritual as they are material…A spicy look into one of the Vatican’s most scandalous periods.
This series was released between 2011 and 2013. Jeremy Irons stars as Pope Rodrigo Borgia, gaining a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama. Holliday Grainger is Lucrezia Borgia and François Arnaud plays Cesare Borgia.
3. Conclave
Another much-acclaimed look inside the Vatican, Conclave came out in 2023. Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Dermot Mulroney lead the cast.
Set during a papal conclave, a diverse group of cardinals must decide on the next pope while facing personal conflicts, church politics, and a looming crisis within the Catholic Church.
This is a fascinating fictional portrayal of the intriguing process that will soon take place to decide Pope Francis’s successor.
4. The Young Pope
The Young Pope, released in 2016, is a provocative and often controversial ten-part drama series. The fictional Pope Pius XIII has a strange reluctance to engage with both his cardinals and the millions of faithful around the world…
It’s not biographical, centred around the first American pope who must navigate the complexities of faith, politics, and power within the Vatican while grappling with his own personal demons.
Jude Law (Pope Pius XIII), Diane Keaton (Sister Mary) and Silvio Orlando (Cardinal Voiello) lead the cast. Law won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama.
5. The Pope’s Exorcist
Another recent movie exploring the dark side of the Vatican, The Pope’s Exorcist came out in 2023. It is based on a true story. Father Gabriele Amorth (Russell Crowe), the Vatican’s chief exorcist, is battling against a powerful demonic possession. At the same time, Amorth is uncovering dark secrets about the Church. It’s set in 1987.
Have you watched any of these dramas about the Vatican?
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