10 actors in the role of a pope

That the Conclave begins. Starting today, the ancient ritual will start to elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church. All in the papacy is cinematographic. The mystery, the sacred vestments and, above all, the choice of the new pontiff as shown in the very popular film with Ralph Fiennes, in the cardinal red of a contender reluctant to the role of vicar of God. Jonathan Pryce it was witty (The two popes), Jeremy Irons enjoyment (Borgia), Peter O’Toole corrupt (The tudors), Liv Ullman secretly woman (The Papessa) And Jude Law he split with the speedo (The Young Pope). The Holy Father in the films and TV series had the most charismatic faces. Among the eligible actors, a memorable also stands out Michel Piccoli in Habemus Papam by Nanni Moretti: his character is seen to impose the highest charge of the church but succumbs to the fear of exposing himself, as caught by a sudden panic panic.

However, when the Pope is relegated to a secondary or support role, it was often easier to represent him as an antagonist. This is the case of Rex Harrisonwho plays a rigid and boring Julius II Torment and ecstasy. His character is constantly reproached by the Michelangelo of Charlton Heston, engaged in the titanic company from frescoing the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Waiting for the white smoke, the 10 best actors who played the Pope (classified).

10. Rex Harrison as Pope Julius II Torment and ecstasy (1965)

The austere and boring “Pope Warrior” of the Carol Reed film. His character is constantly reproached by Charlton Heston’s impetuous Michelangelo, engaged in the titanic feat of frescoing the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

9. Raf Vallone in the role of Pope John Paul I ne The godfather part III (1990)

Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) confesses his most serious sins to Cardinal Lamberto, a fictitious character deeply troubled by the crimes heard. He will become an imaginary version of Pope John Paul I, determined to face the scandals and the corruption that shake the Vatican, as well as he did – at least in part – his homonymous in the true life.

8. Michel Piccoli as the Pope in Habemus Papam (2011)

Pietro’s successor carries the weight of the entire Catholic world on his shoulders. Nanni Moretti offers an ironic portrait of a fragile pontiff: Cardinal Melville is elected Pope against his will and gives in to the anguish of the role, overwhelmed by a sudden stage panic.

7. Anthony Quinn as Pope Kiril I ne The man who came from Kremlin (1968)

Set during the Cold War, the film tells the extraordinary rise to the papacy of Kiril Lakota, a Ukrainian archbishop released after years of captivity in Soviet gulags. Once he arrived in Rome, he is unexpectedly elected pope.

6. Johanna Wokalek as Pope Giovanna ne The Papessa (2009)

What about the patriarchate of Catholic domination? The German actress in the role of the legendary Papessa who, according to legend, would have ruled the Church for two years in the ninth century, hiding her identity as a woman.

5. Paolo Stoppa as Pope Pius VII ne The Marquis of Grillo (1981)

The pontiff who observes Roma with ironic detachment. In the middle of the burles of the Marquis Onofrio (Alberto Sordi), his Pius VII is the symbol of a power that creaks. Stoppa offers a human and disenchanted portrait: a Pope who rather than commanding, seems to resist between corrupt nobles, French French and jokes always lurking.

4. Jonathan Pryce as Pope Francis of The two popes (2019)

The performance of Jonathan Pryce, splendidly empathic and ironic, in the role of Pope Francis (or rather, for most of the film, of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio), has probably contributed to shaping the memory of the Holy Father, at least for the secular world. The future Pope is humble but tormented, with a popular touch that irritates the then Pontiff in office, the severe and conservative Benedict XVI, played by Anthony Hopkins.

3. Peter O’Toole in the role of Pope Paul III ne The tudors (2007)

The Holy Grail of the Showtime series. To interpret the corrupt Pope Paul III, an actor of extraordinary caliber was needed, capable of supporting the comparison with Enrico VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) during his attempt to divorce Caterina d’Aragona. The challenge launched by Enrico alla Pontiffice, and the consequent break with the Catholic Church, mark one of the most epochal turning point in the history of the world.

2. Jeremy Irons in the role of Pope Alexander VI Borgia (2011)

Winner of 3 Emmy, the Canadian series created by Neil Jordan tells the turbid events of one of the most powerful and corrupt dynasties of the Renaissance. The plot follows the rise of the charismatic patriarch Rodrigo Borgia to the papacy, revealing a world marked by intrigues, sex and blood, all under the shadow of the Vatican.

1. Jude Law as Pope Pius XIII in The Young Pope (2016)

White smoke for Jude Law in Paolo Sorrentino’s Dramedy. His Lenny Belardo is dedicated to tobacco and even gives us the sinful vision of the pontiff walking on the beach, muscular, dressed only with a brief.