In the wake of Pius's homily, multiple factions within the Vatican bond together, trying to seek anything they can find on their new pope. Lenny plans to bring forth a new resurgence of conservative Christianity as his former mentor, Cardinal Spencer, struggles with Cardinal Voiello over their inability to control the new Pope. Lenny forces Voiello to reveal that liberal forces in the College of Cardinals blocked Spencer's election as Pope, resulting in an agreement between the two men to use Lenny as a puppet to control the Papacy. When Lenny threatens to excommunicate Voiello, the liberal cardinal is forced to swear loyalty to him. Later, a chance encounter with Esther, the wife of a Pontifical Swiss Guard, leads to Lenny having a seizure in her presence. Lenny agrees to a press conference, making his counselor Sister Mary read a short statement.
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