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.
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?”
