The cliffhanger ending of 2016’s “The Young Pope”—which left Pius XIII (Jude Law) a noble ruin, and the Catholic Church not far behind—did what cliffhanger endings are supposed to do: leave an audience hungry for answers. What kind of holy, Roman and apostolic chaos would ensue now that the pope was on the ropes? What apocalyptic and profane course would destiny be taking once “The New Pope” was installed on the altar of HBO?

The Church that we find in episode 1 is, per the vernacular, a hot mess. “Everything is your priority...