I find it odd and darkly humorous that the Pope wishes to go to confessional boasting of Friar Raphael (Edward Petherbridge), who was able to make him feel “clean.” I don’t think an ocean could cleanse this Pope of his filthy sins. It’s one of the scintillating things I love about this show. Irons portrays the most cunning and ruthless religious figure I’ve ever seen. His subtle nuances – the haunting pitch of his voice, his mannerisms, and his facial expressions – are frightfully convincing. It gives me chills sometimes as I watch him.