'The New Pope' Episode 7: Pope Pius XIII re-emerges as a 'saint' while John Paul III remains mum
The latest offering of Paolo Sorrentino's 'The New Pope' brings Pope Pius XIII (Jude Law) back in top form, after he lay comatose for nearly a year. Meanwhile, the drama in the Vatican in the presence of its new Pope John Paul III (John Malkovich) continues to unfold.
In what came as the last ray of light for the staunch followers of the Pius XIII, the miraculously timed sigh of the unconscious Bishop promised the shattered souls some hope to hold on to.
Episode 6 of 'The New Pope' opens to Jude Law aka Pope Pius XIII walking on the beach in his signature tightie-whitie, while Esther (Ludivine Sagnier) waits for him clad in a bikini.
The scene later shifts to the hospital where Pius XIII is seen declaring that "God called me and now I am back". The doctor himself is startled to see the Pope stand on his feet, calling it a "miracle". However, the Supreme Pontiff shuns him by terming his re-birth nothing but "an absolute scientific exception".
However, he is not quite ready to return to the Vatican or face his followers. So, he asks the doctor to remain discreet. Until the time comes for him to go to Rome and re-establish himself as the Bishop, he decides to stay with the doctor's family.
The latest episode has wonder written all over it. Although Pope Pius XIII brands himself as an "Antichrist" who is incapable of performing miracles, he is pictured as someone beyond a Pope, a saint or a messiah essentially.
Bound by moral obligations to save people, Pope Pius XIII tries to bring some peace to the distressed family by whispering into Eric's ear what it is to be in heaven, leaving the boy in the vegetative state teary-eyed.
Meanwhile, Pope John Paul III has not released any sort of statement regarding the terror attack in the Vatican and continues to remain silent. He is further devastated by the death of his pet pooch, which has put him in a state of "deep depression" as Sofia (Cécile de France) tells Voiello (Silvio Orlando).
The rise of Pope Pius XIII and the downfall of Pope John Paul III run parallelly yet again, painting a contradicting picture that highlights the current season.
Meanwhile, unaware of the Pope's recovery and influenced by Esther's declaration of his death, the idolaters decide to follow him to heaven by walking into the ocean in baring their bodies.
'The New Pope' airs on Fridays on Sky Atlantic.