With his election as Pope Pius XIII, formerly known as Lenny Belardo, the new pontiff immediately signaled a departure from established Vatican norms. His early days on the throne were marked by a surprising resistance to anticipated protoc…

Before addressing the assembly at St. Peter's, Lenny carefully outlined the parameters of his remarks. Cardinal Spencer, however, rejected any gesture toward reconciliation.

Lenny’s inaugural address made his resolve clear: he would not be swayed. This stance, however, drew the ire of powerful figures within the Vatican, forging new adversaries. Yet, amidst the opposition, he found a single, fervent supporter.

Convinced that the removal of Pope Leo's authority hinged on implicating him in scandal, Cardinal Secretary of State Voiello blackmailed Ester into seducing the pontiff.

Lenny finds respite from the Vatican's confines in an evening spent with a friend from his youth, while Voiello grapples with a moral dilemma when fate offers a chance for change.

Nearly a year into his reign, Pope Lenny holds his first audience with the Italian prime minister. Meanwhile, Cardinal Dussolier implements a contentious decree.

Haunted by a recent tragedy, Dussollier journeys back to Honduras, burdened by self-reproach. As support for Lenny wanes, a shadow of doubt falls upon the future of his papacy.

Grief-stricken by a recent personal tragedy, Pope Pius XIII made a sudden choice to journey to Africa, where he encountered a highly respected missionary whose presence evoked a complex and unsettling mixture of emotions within him.

A shadow of disappointment settled over Gutierrez; his search for proof against Cardinal Kurtwell had yielded nothing. Yet, a glimmer of hope emerged with the potential testimony of a new witness, one who might finally provide the missing p…

Pope Pius XIII was poised for his first public appearance, embarking on a pastoral visit to Venice. However, this momentous occasion would be preceded by a necessary reckoning, a quiet settling of long-standing matters.