As the leader of the Catholic Church, the Pope’s influence is widespread — so much so that it spreads all the way to Hollywood. Over the years, the Vatican leader has been depicted across television and cinema, with some fictionalized and true-to-form retellings of the influential leader. Now, in the wake of Pope Francis’ death and the election of Robert Prevost, the first American pope, who has chosen the name Leo XIV, interest in the papacy is at an all-time high.
Whether you’ve seen the Bishop of Rome portrayed in the Academy Award-winning film Conclave or through HBO’s Young Pope series, there are plenty of titles that center around the leader of the Catholic Church. Below, The Hollywood Reporter has assembled 11 films and TV shows that feature the pope.
‘The Godfather Part III’ (1990)
Parts of Francis Ford Coppola’s threequel starring Al Pacino, Andy Garcia and Diane Keaton were based loosely on historical events, namely the 33-day papacy of John Paul I in 1978. Like the movie’s fictional Cardinal Lamberto (Raf Vallone), who becomes John Paul I, the real John Paul — known as “the smiling pope” — was found dead in his bed soon after becoming pontiff.
‘The Pope’s Toilet’ (2007)
El Bano del Papo details the frenzied preparations by a small South American village on the border of Uruguay and Brazil ahead of an expected 1998 visit by Pope John Paul II. Written and directed by Cesar Charlone and Enrique Fernandez, the movie was Uruguay’s submission for the foreign-language film Oscar race but didn’t get a nomination.
‘Angels and Demons’ (2009)
Brian Grazer and Ron Howard famously brought Dan Brown’s hit novel to the big screen with Tom Hanks reprising his role as symbologist Robert Langdon from The Da Vinci Code. The film shows Rome as it prepares for the conclave as Camerlengo Patrick McKenna (Ewan McGregor) assumes temporary control of the Vatican. It later emerges that McKenna came up with a scheme to become pope, which leads to his suicide.
‘Pope Joan’ (2009)
Donna Woolfolk Cross’ historical best-seller, about a ninth century pope who actually was a woman, took longer to bring to the big screen than the reign of most pontiffs. After decades in development purgatory, German producer Constantin finally delivered — with German actress Johanna Wokalek moving from playing a terrorist in the Oscar-nominated The Baader Meinhof Complex to ascending St. Peter’s throne. John Goodman has a supporting role as wine-swilling Pope Sergius.
‘The Borgias’ (Showtime)
The notorious Borgia family, the 15th century dynasty that became known for spawning the worst of the bad popes, has inspired a dozen films and TV series. In Neil Jordan’s Showtime series The Borgias, Jeremy Irons gives his Machiavellian best as family patriarch Rodrigo Borgia
‘Borgia’ (Netflix)
Like The Borgias, this Netflix series centers on the Borgia family’s influence on the Vatican. Here, John Daman stars as Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, later known as Pope Alexander VI. The show ran for three seasons, tracking the Borgia family history from 1492 all the way until 1507, four years after Pope Alexander VI’s 1503 death.
‘We Have a Pope’ (2011)
Much-fêted Italian director Nanni Moretti turned his filmmaking eye to the pope with his usual dry wit. The film details the relationship between a newly elected pope and his therapist. Michel Piccoli won a best actor award at the David di Donatello Awards, Italy’s top film awards, for his turn as the head of the Catholic Church.
‘The Young Pope’ (HBO)
Jude Law stars in The Young Pope as the fictitious Pope Pius XIII, accompanied by Academy Award winner Diane Keaton as Sister Mary. In the HBO series, Law’s Pope disrupts the Vatican and shifts most responsibilities to Sister Mary.
‘The Two Popes’ (2019)
Before Conclave, Hollywood brought the Vatican to the silver screen with 2019’s The Two Popes, which spotlighted the story of the late Francis’ ascension (played by Jonathan Pryce) and his friendship with Pope Benedict XVI (played by Anthony Hopkins). The film grabbed three Oscar noms, including a best actor nod for Pryce for his portrayal of Francis.
‘The New Pope’ (HBO)
While HBO’s The Young Pope was initially slated as a limited series, it got a sequel of sorts in The New Pope. In the 2020 series, Law reprises his role as Pope Pius XIII, though Cardinal Viglietti (Marcello Romolo) swiftly serves as his successor as Pope Francis II. However, when Viglietti is assassinated, The New Pope finds yet another new pope in Pope John Paul III (John Malkovich).
‘Conclave’ (2024)
Edward Berger’s political drama depicts a fictional conclave after the pope in its story suddenly dies. Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with leading the College of Cardinals’ search for the new pontiff. The film is set over three days at the Vatican in Italy, and sees Fiennes’ Lawrence investigate and uncover scandals involving potential candidates before a new pope is chosen. Conclave garnered eight Oscar noms and one win, for best adapted screenplay, at the 2025 Academy Awards.
