The Divine Comedy Within <em>The Young Pope</em>
The show is funny because it's about the power of humor—and the absurdities of faith.
by Spencer Kornhaber
Jan 24, 2017
4 minutes
One of the funniest moments of recent TV memory comes in the second episode The Young Pope during a tense meeting between Jude Law’s Lenny Belardo—Pope Pious XIII—and a cardinal who opposed his ascension to the papacy. Belardo asks the cardinal whether he is a homosexual; the cardinal, after a long and pained paused, answers yes. Belardo, silent, reaches to the button beneath his desk that sends a signal to his staff that he needs an excuse to end a meeting.
Into the room comes the papal secretary, Sister Surree. Chipperly: “Time for your snack, Holy Father!”
Belardo lets out a shocked snort of laughter and tries to stifle it. His voice exasperated, unbelieving: “My snack?”
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