A newly-elected Pope Leo XIV finds himself accidentally locked out of the Vatican. Unknown to the outside world, he winds up in an impoverished Italian village, where his adventures ultimately teach the Pope and his new friends some important lessons about friendship and self-esteem. Written by Chris DeSantis
Acting
Tom Conti's Pope is chaos with a kind face.
Production
Authentic Italian village locations, Vatican-adjacent without the budget.
Director
Robert M. Young
Tom Conti
Pope Leo XIV
Fernando Rey
Cardinal Stefano Biondi
Erland Josephson
Monsignor Francesco Ghezzi
Giancarlo Giannini
Abalardi
Donald Hewlett
Monsignor Colin McGee
Edward James Olmos
Ciolino
Patricia Mauceri
Lucia
Marta Zoffoli
Isabella
Guido Alberti
Cardinal Augusto Morante
Massimo Sarchielli
Fortunato
Massimo Serato
Monsignor Betti
Tom Felleghy
Ambassador
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Robert M. Young directed this between indie darlings and prestige TV; it's his most mainstream 'what if' fever dream. Never got a proper U.S. theatrical release.
Released in 1986, sandwiched between two actual papal transitions—John Paul II was very much alive and watching, presumably confused. The film's gentle anti-establishment tone feels almost radical in retrospect.
US
