Wikipedia

The Young Pope

The Young Popeis a satiricaldramatelevision series created and directed byPaolo SorrentinoforSky Atlantic,HBO,andCanal+.The series starsJude Lawas the disruptive Pope Pius XIII andDiane Keatonas his confidante, Sister Mary, in a Vatican full of intrigues.[1]The series was co-produced by the European production companies Wildside, Haut et Court TV, andMediapro.

The Young Pope
Promotional poster
GenreDrama
Created byPaolo Sorrentino
Written by
  • Paolo Sorrentino
  • Stefano Rulli
  • Tony Grisoni
  • Umberto Contarello
Directed byPaolo Sorrentino
Starring
Opening theme"Watchtower"(Instrumental)prod. byLabrinth
ComposerLele Marchitelli
Country of origin
  • Italy
  • France
  • Spain
Original languages
  • English
  • Italian
No.of episodes10(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Lorenzo Mieli
  • Mario Gianani
  • Viola Prestieri
  • Paolo Sorrentino
  • Caroline Benjo
  • Carole Scotta
  • Simon Arnal
  • Jaume Roures
  • Javier Méndez
  • Tony Grisoni
  • John Lyons
  • Ron Bozman(pilot)
  • Nils Hartmann
  • Sonia Rovai
  • Roberto Amoroso
Producers
Production locations
CinematographyLuca Bigazzi
EditorCristiano Travaglioli
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time46–60 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
Release21 October(2016-10-21)–
18 November 2016(2016-11-18)
Related
The New Pope

The world premiere ofThe Young Popewas on 3 September 2016 at the73rd Venice International Film Festival,where the first two episodes were screened out of competition, the first time in the history of the festival that a TV series has been a part of the program.[2]The series premiered on television on 21 October 2016 onSky AtlanticinItaly.

The Young Popewas originally designed as a limited series, and was marketed as such especially in the United States.[3]However, it was later followed byThe New Pope,with Law returning and joined byJohn Malkovich.[4]Production began in Italy in late 2018.[5]

On 14 July 2017,The Young Popereceived two nominations for the69th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards,becoming the first Italian TV series to be nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award.[6]

Plot

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A young cardinal from New York, Lenny Belardo, becomes pope of theCatholic Churchwhen the leading contenders of thePapal conclavefail to win election. Installed as a compromise candidate, Belardo takes the name of Pius XIII and immediately proceeds to challenge the established traditions and practices of theVatican.In one of his first acts, he decrees that common people are not worthy to gaze upon the Pope's face and appears to a crowd inSt. Peter's Squareshrouded in darkness. Next, during a meeting with theCardinal Secretary of State,the Pope states he will now become directly involved in the political affairs of the Vatican, effectively assuming control of theSecretariat of Stateof theHoly See.

Alarmed by his radical changes to the church, several senior cardinals begin a plan to try to control the Pope and dissuade him from even more ideas dangerous to the church. In response, the Pope installs Sister Mary, thenunwho raised him in an orphanage, to serve as his chief adviser and publicly denounces several cardinals. He likewise threatens to confiscate all the property of various religious orders, in particular theFranciscans,if they do not accept his unquestioned leadership. Following this, the Pope directs that thePapal tiarabe removed from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and returned to the Vatican as his personal crown.

In a last ditch effort to rein in the Pope, the cardinals arrange a meeting with thePrime Minister of Italywho is subsequently bullied by the Pope and threatened with an archaic papal procedure allowing the Church to direct Italians as to who they should cast their votes for in local elections. Amid fears that at this point the Pope is trying to restore thePapal States,it is then discovered the Pope is suffering from massive depression and that all of his actions have been driven by his desire to confront his parents, who abandoned him as a boy.

Cast

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Main

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Recurring

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Flashbacks

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  • Allison Case as young Sister Mary
  • Frank Gingerich as young Lenny Belardo
  • Olivia Macklin as Lenny Belardo's mother
  • Jack McQuaid as young Andrew Dussolier
  • Collin Smith as Lenny Belardo's father
  • Ann Darlington Carr as the Custodian's wife, miraculously cured by Balardo's prayer
  • Brian Keane as the Custodian

Guests

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  • Massimiliano Gallo as Captain Becchi, aCarabinieriofficer
  • Emilio Dino Conti as the Italian Prime Minister's advisor
  • Marcos Franz as Ángelo Sanchez, a young man whose application to become a priest has been rejected
  • Milvia Marigliano as Sister Antonia, a missionary nun serving in Africa
  • Nicolas Costeras an American journalist
  • Todd Grinnell as Archbishop Kurtwell's assistant
  • Troy Ruptash as David Tanistone, Archbishop Kurtwell's secret son

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateItalian viewers
(millions) [a]
1"Episode 1"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino21 October 2016(2016-10-21)0.743[8]
0.953(o.n.)[9]
Lenny Belardo becomes the first AmericanPopeand takes the name of Pius XIII. Shortly after his election, he causes upheaval in the Vatican with his desire to reject both publicity and the liberal philosophy of his predecessor. Sister Mary, the nun who raised Lenny, is brought in as his personal secretary, and immediately establishes herself as the chief rival of the powerfulCardinalVoiello, the Vatican'sSecretary of State.Cardinal Spencer, Lenny's mentor and the original favourite for the papacy, is distraught over his loss in the Papal election.
2"Episode 2"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino21 October 2016(2016-10-21)0.743[8]
0.953(o.n.)[9]
Lenny shocks the world with his first address, in which he demands Catholics worldwide devote themselves body and soul to God, no matter the consequences. Sister Mary and Cardinal Voiello struggle to control Lenny, who admits that his conservative religious views result from his parents' decision to place him in a Catholic orphanage so they could pursue ahedonisticlifestyle.
3"Episode 3"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino and Stefano Rulli28 October 2016(2016-10-28)0.517[10]
Lenny plans to lead a resurgence of conservative Christianity despite the efforts of Spencer and Voiello. Lenny forces Voiello to reveal that liberal forces in theCollege of Cardinalsblocked the conservative Spencer's election as Pope, resulting in an agreement between the two men to use Lenny as a puppet. When Lenny threatens toexcommunicateVoiello, the liberal cardinal is forced to swear loyalty to him. Later, during a chance encounter with Esther, the wife of aPontifical Swiss Guard,Lenny collapses.
4"Episode 4"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino and Stefano Rulli28 October 2016(2016-10-28)0.517[10]
Lenny arranges for a nun's sister to be brought to the Vatican for burial, then berates the nun at the funeral for crying, accusing her of not believing in God. At Voiello's instigation, Spencer attempts to manipulate Lenny, who then denies him a promotion and severs ties with him. Voiello arranges for Esther to work as an assistant to the Pope in the hope that they will develop a sexual relationship that he can exploit to his advantage. However, Lenny is not tempted and prays to God to help her conceive a child with her lover. Lenny's comments about the gay aide to the attractive femaleprime minister of Greenlandand the fact that the cardinals ignore her lead him to threaten to expel homosexuals from the Vatican, which horrifies Voiello. Lenny is also suspicious of the intentions of Sofia, head of the Vatican's marketing branch and his closest ally outside the priesthood.
5"Episode 5"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino4 November 2016(2016-11-04)0.508[11]
Lenny sidesteps Esther's sexual advances, thwarting Voiello's persistent machinations to bring him down with an illicit sex scandal. Lenny reveals that he already knows everyone's secrets, including those of Voiello, Gutierrez, and Tommaso. Thepapal tiaraarrives, and Lenny finally addresses the cardinals. He controversially announces that theCatholic Churchwill no longer compromise merely to appease its followers, but will instead become more hard-line and inflexible, dedicating itself to the service of God.
6"Episode 6"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino4 November 2016(2016-11-04)0.508[11]
Six months later, after the birth of Esther's baby, and nine months into his papacy, Voiello warns Lenny that the Church is losing followers. Lenny finally grants an audience with thePrime Minister of Italy,a man of similar age and attractiveness as Lenny. He gives the prime minister a list of shocking and preposterous demands to favour the Church using political blackmail, but the prime minister rejects Lenny's demands. Lenny forces Cardinal Dussolier, his childhood friend and now the cardinal in charge of approving new priests, to block the entrance of new priests who do not adhere toclerical celibacy,regardless of their sexual persuasion. A young seminarian is denied admittance and distraught, he commits suicide inSt. Peter's Square.
7"Episode 7"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino andTony Grisoni11 November 2016(2016-11-11)0.490[12]
Voiello and Dussolier desperately try to make Lenny see the disaster he is unleashing by marginalising the Church. Sister Mary seeks Voiello's support to save the Church, deeply impressing him. Lenny is shocked and excited by the prospect of reuniting with his parents after receiving a gift indicating that they wish to see him, but he exposes them as fakes. The cardinals cut a deal with Spencer, who has a heart-to-heart with Lenny who agrees to resign. Racked by guilt, Dussolier returns to Honduras, but he is killed by a drug lord who felt disrespected because Dussolier had sex with his wife.
8"Episode 8"Paolo SorrentinoPaolo Sorrentino and Tony Grisoni11 November 2016(2016-11-11)0.490[12]
Lenny prays for Dussolier's soul while Sister Mary weeps bitter tears. Sofia counsels the Pope to visit Sister Antonia, a well-publicized missionary in Africa, and surprisingly he agrees. En route, the press are frustrated at Lenny's failure to appear and a journalist asks a pointed question which indicates to Voiello that Kurtwell might be blackmailing the Pontiff. In Africa, the Pope becomes suspicious of Sister Antonia's professed piety and her support for the country's dictator. After his failed confession to an African priest who does not understand English, the priest passes Lenny a note accusing Sister Antonia of controlling and manipulating the water supply. Now aware of local injustices, Lenny delivers an inspiring speech to the country's populace about war andpeace,with pointed warnings to its dictator and Sister Antonia. As the Pope's entourage departs, Antonia dies after she drinks from her personal water supply.
9"Episode 9"Paolo SorrentinoUmberto Contarello and Paolo Sorrentino18 November 2016(2016-11-18)0.550[13]
InNew York City,Cardinal Gutierrez is convinced of Kurtwell's guilt and desperately tries to convince his former victims to testify, but without success. Meanwhile, as Spencer lies dying in the Vatican, Lenny agrees to relate the miracle he performed as a teenager, successfully imploring God to save a friend's mother from certain death. Back in New York, Gutierrez resorts to unsavoury tactics,entrappingKurtwell in a compromising homosexual situation. In desperation, Kurtwell releases his blackmail material on Lenny, love letters to a young woman. Kurtwell's overconfidence proves his undoing as Lenny never sent the letters. However, they are so beautiful that after they are published they become an instant sensation. Gutierrez unceremoniously bundles Kurtwell back to the Vatican.
10"Episode 10"Paolo SorrentinoUmberto Contarello and Paolo Sorrentino18 November 2016(2016-11-18)0.550[13]
Impressed with his new conviction and sense of maturity, Lenny asks Gutierrez to take over as his personal secretary, prepared to overlook his homosexuality; however, he banishes Kurtwell toAlaskafor his sins against children. Lenny reconciles with Sister Mary and sends her to Africa to take Antonia's place and to be with orphans again. After learning that he himself may be considered for sainthood one day, Lenny agrees to spend Christmas inGuatemalaamong the patients of Beata Juana. At the last minute, however, Lenny decides to face his demons and heads forVeniceinstead. At theBasilica San Marco,the Pope finally reveals his face, appearing before thousands of people in thepiazzausing Beata Juana's words to deliver a homily that touches the crowds and the cardinals alike. However, after seeing a couple in the crowd that looks like his parents, the young pope collapses, leaving his future and that of the Church uncertain.

Production

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The Young Pope,the first TV series byPaolo Sorrentino,was produced by Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani, together with the French company Haut et Court TV and the Spanish companyMediapro.[14]The project was financed bySky,Canal+andHBO,which contributed 40 million euros, with part of the money coming from theEuropean Regional Development Fund.Production took three years between 2014 and 2016.[15][16]

The script was written by Sorrentino, Stefano Rulli,Tony Grisoniand Umberto Contarello.[17]The cast, announced between July and August 2015, includesJude Lawas the young pope;Diane Keatonas Sister Mary;James Cromwell,Silvio Orlando,Scott Shepherd,Javier CámaraandToni Bertorelli.It also includesCécile de France,Ludivine Sagnier,Guy Boyd,Andre Gregory,Sebastian Roché,Marcello Romolo,Ignazio Oliva,Vladimir Bibic,Daniel Vivianand Nadie Kammalaweera.[18][1]The main character is almost always seen only from the waist up, to give the impression that he might be soaring. Sorrentino said he inherited this technique fromSpike Lee.[19]

Principal photography, which took seven months, started in August 2015 and took place mainly in theCinecittàstudios, where the interior of the Vatican was recreated. Exterior shots and garden scenes were taken at a number of villas, primarilyVilla Lante (Bagnaia),Villa Medici,andOrto Botanico dell'Università di Roma "La Sapienza",while some interior shots were also taken insidePalazzo Venezia.[15][16][19]Parts of the last episode were shot inpiazza San MarcoinVenice.[20]

Broadcast

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The series premiered on 21 October 2016 onSky Atlanticin Italy andSky Atlanticin Germany and Austria, on 27 October 2016 onSky Atlanticin the United Kingdom and Ireland, on 28 October 2016 onHBO Europein various European countries, and on 15 January 2017 onHBOandHBO Canadain the United States and Canada.[21][22]It premiered in Australia onSBS Televisionon 29 April 2017.[23]In India it was telecast on ZeeCafe.[citation needed]

Reception

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The Young Popereceived positive reviews in the UK,[24][25]Ireland,[26]and Italy.[27]Jude Law's performance has garnered praise by Jasper Rees ofThe Daily Telegraph,[28]while the Italian weekly Catholic magazineFamiglia Cristianaobjected to "caricature-like characters created to appeal to an American audience".[29][30][31]

On US review aggregatorMetacritic,it has a rating of 68, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[32]The show also currently has a 80% positive rating from review aggregatorRotten Tomatoescombining 89 reviews.[33]Its "Critics Consensus": "The Young Pope's original premise and stylish blend of over-the-top melodrama with profane comedy helps overcome an occasionally muddled plot. "

Some Catholic reviewers were put off by what they perceived as the series'anti-Catholicstance.[34]Such critics took issue with a presentation of the Church they found to be caricatural and "cartoonish".[35]Other reviewers complained about anti-Catholicism in the entertainment industry more broadly.[36]However, some conservative reviewers andtraditionalist Catholicspraised the show for its portrayal of tradition and authentic religious devotion.[37][38]

Audience viewership

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In Italy, the two-hour premiere drew the highest rating ever for the pay TV network Sky. With 953,000 viewers overnight, it beat the initial release ofGomorrahand the Italian release ofGame of Thrones.[29][39]

Awards and nominations

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Year Ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
2017 69th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie Luca Bigazzi,Director of Photography Nominated [40]
Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More) Ludovica Ferrario,Production Designer
Alexandro Maria Santucci,Art Director
Laura Casalini,Set Decorator 		Nominated
2017 75th Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Jude Law Nominated

Home media release

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DVDrelease date Blu-rayrelease date
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4 Region A Region B
6 June 2017[41][42] 26 December 2016[43] 28 June 2017[44] 6 June 2017[45][46] 26 December 2016[47]

Notes

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  1. ^Combined viewers ofsimulcastonSky AtlanticandSky Cinema 1.

References

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  1. ^abcdWagmeister, Elizabeth (28 July 2015)."Diane Keaton to Star Opposite Jude Law in HBO and Sky SeriesThe Young Pope".Variety.Retrieved30 July2015.
  2. ^Anderson, Ariston (9 July 2016)."Venice Film Fest: Paolo Sorrentino'sThe Young Popeto Get World Premiere ".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved10 November2016.
  3. ^Nolfi, Joey (5 December 2016)."The Young Pope: HBO releases new trailer".Entertainment Weekly.Retrieved23 December2017.
  4. ^HBO (2 July 2018)."Welcome to the papacy".@HBO.Retrieved16 May2020.
  5. ^Loughrey, Clarisse (17 May 2017)."The Young Popeto get follow-up series called The New Pope ".The Independent.Archivedfrom the original on 7 May 2022.Retrieved28 August2017.
  6. ^"Emmy Awards:" The Young Pope ", il record di" Saturday Night Live "e le candidature di Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins e gli altri".Corriere della Sera.14 July 2017.
  7. ^abcdefghijVivarelli, Nick (4 August 2015)."Paolo Sorrentino'sYoung PopeRounds out Cast with James Cromwell and Slew of Top International Talent ".Variety.Retrieved19 August2015.
  8. ^abBuonocore, Mattia (22 October 2016)."Ascolti Sky – Venerdì 21 ottobre 2016.The Young Popeparte da 953 spettatori cumulati ".DavideMaggio.it(in Italian).Retrieved12 November2016.
  9. ^abVivarelli, Nick (22 October 2016)."Paolo Sorrentino'sThe Young PopeDebuts to Stellar Ratings in Italy ".Variety.Retrieved29 October2016.
  10. ^abBuonocore, Mattia (29 October 2016)."Ascolti Sky – Venerdì 28 October 2016. CrollaThe Young Pope(517.000 spettatori cumulati) ".DavideMaggio.it(in Italian).Retrieved12 November2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^abBuonocore, Mattia (5 November 2016)."Ascolti Sky – Venerdì 4 novembre 2016. In 508 mila perThe Young Pope".DavideMaggio.it(in Italian).Retrieved12 November2016.
  12. ^abBuonocore, Mattia (12 November 2016)."Ascolti Sky – Venerdì 11 novembre 2016.The Young Popesi ferma a 490.000 spettatori cumulati ".DavideMaggio.it(in Italian).Retrieved12 November2016.
  13. ^abStefanelli, Stefania (19 November 2016)."Ascolti Sky – Venerdì 18 novembre 2016.The Young Popechiude con 550.000 spettatori cumulati ".DavideMaggio.it(in Italian).Retrieved19 November2016.
  14. ^"The Young Popedi Paolo Sorrentino evento speciale della Mostra di Venezia 2016 ".Film.it.9 July 2016.Retrieved22 October2016.
  15. ^abCuomo, Antonio (7 August 2015)."The Young Pope:Paolo Sorrentino e Jude Law tra provocazioni e contraddizioni del loro giovane Papa ".Movieplayer.it(in Italian).Retrieved22 October2016.
  16. ^ab"The Young Popearriva su Sky. Sorrentino già prepara la seconda stagione ".Affaritaliani.it(in Italian). 10 October 2016.Retrieved22 October2016.
  17. ^"The Young Pope:il pressbook della serie in PDF – Terza parte "(PDF).Skyatlantic.sky.it(in Italian): 16. 10 October 2016.Retrieved11 October2016.
  18. ^Wagmeister, Elizabeth (28 July 2015)."Diane Keaton to Star Opposite Jude Law in HBO and Sky SeriesThe Young Pope".Variety.Retrieved15 June2016.
  19. ^ab"The Young Pope,Paolo Sorrentino racconta come è nata la fiction di Sky ".TV Sorrisi e Canzoni(in Italian). 17 October 2016.Retrieved22 October2016.
  20. ^"Venezia, in piazza San Marco le riprese diThe Young Pope.FOTO ".Sky TG24(in Italian). 12 January 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 22 October 2016.Retrieved22 October2016.
  21. ^Tartaglione, Nancy (3 September 2016)."The Young PopeTrailer: Jude Law is a Contradiction, And God – Venice ".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved5 September2016.
  22. ^Petski, Denise (1 November 2016)."The Young PopeGets Premiere Date On HBO ".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved1 November2016.
  23. ^"The Young Popepremieres exclusively on SBS "by Virginia Padovese,SBS,10 April 2017
  24. ^Mangan, Lucy (27 October 2016)."The Young Popereview – fantastically anxiety-inducing viewing for lapsed Catholics ".The Guardian.
  25. ^"The Young Popeis a hit with Catholics – so why is Pope Francis so silent about it? ".Independent. 4 November 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 7 May 2022.
  26. ^"The Young Popereview: Jude Law, bums and white smoke ".The Irish Times.27 October 2016.Retrieved8 June2017.
  27. ^Tammaro, Gianmaria (19 November 2016)."Si è chiusoThe Young Pope,abbiamo fatto un bilancio ".La Stampa(in Italian).
  28. ^Rees, Jasper (27 October 2016)."The Young Pope:Jude Law convinces as a very modern pontiff ".The Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022.
  29. ^abVivarelli, Nick (22 October 2016)."Paolo Sorrentino'sThe Young PopeDebuts to Stellar Ratings in Italy ".Variety.Retrieved17 January2017.
  30. ^Turrioni, Maurizio (21 October 2017)."Ma Questo Papa non è da Oscar"[Not an Oscar style Pope].Famiglia Cristiana(in Italian).Retrieved17 January2017.
  31. ^Turrioni, Maurizio (27 October 2016)."The Young Pope:perché piace e perché no "[The Good Pope: What Pleases and What Doesn't].Famiglia Christiana(in Italian).Retrieved17 January2017.
  32. ^"Critic Reviews forThe Young PopeSeason 1 ".Metacritic.Retrieved15 January2017.
  33. ^"The Young Pope:Miniseries ".Rotten Tomatoes.Retrieved24 March2024.
  34. ^"HBOsThe Young Popeis Absurdity Masquerading as Art ".Catholic Stand.2 February 2017.Retrieved14 June2017.
  35. ^"HBO'sThe Young PopeRepels More Than it Engages ".catholicregister.org.Catholic News Service. Archived fromthe originalon 10 September 2017.Retrieved14 June2017.
  36. ^"HBO's Foul Stench: Reviews of the Cable Network'sThe Young PopeConfirm that it Is Simply Anti-Catholic Drivel ".Our Sunday Visitor.Archived fromthe originalon 10 September 2017.Retrieved14 June2017.
  37. ^Schmitz, Matthew (March 2017)."Waiting for a Young Pope".First Things(March 2017).Retrieved9 September2017.
  38. ^Bayles, Martha (25 April 2017)."A Long-Form Miracle".Claremont Review of Books.XVII, No. 2 (Spring 2017).Retrieved9 September2017.
  39. ^"The Young Popeda record, + 45% di 'Gomorra' nella prima puntata ".22 October 2016.
  40. ^"Emmys - The Young Pope".Retrieved9 January2018.
  41. ^"The Young Pope - An HBO Limited Series (DVD)".TV Shows on DVD.Archived fromthe originalon 26 December 2017.Retrieved26 December2017.
  42. ^"The Young Pope [DVD]".Amazon.ca.6 June 2017.Retrieved26 December2017.
  43. ^"The Young Pope [DVD]".Amazon.26 December 2016.Retrieved26 December2017.
  44. ^"The Young Pope: Series 1 (DVD)".EzyDVD.Retrieved26 December2017.
  45. ^"The Young Pope - An HBO Limited Series (Blu-ray)".TV Shows on DVD.Archived fromthe originalon 26 December 2017.Retrieved26 December2017.
  46. ^"The Young Pope [Blu-ray]".Amazon.ca. 6 June 2017.Retrieved26 December2017.
  47. ^"The Young Pope [Blu-ray]".Amazon.26 December 2016.Retrieved26 December2017.
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