The Shoes of the Fisherman

Kiril Pavlovich Lakota is unexpectedly freed after twenty years in a Siberian labour camp. He is released by his former gaoler Piotr Kamenev, who has risen to Premier of the Soviet Union. The decree of his release sets him on a new journey from the brutal camp to the heart of the Catholic world in Rome.

Lakota is sent to Rome where the pope makes him a cardinal and assigns him the titulus of the Church of St. Athanasius. He kneels and receives the scarlet zucchetto, a symbol of his elevation, which he accepts with reluctance. He is told to take on a mission of significance, despite his plea for a simple role.

With the pope dead, the College of Cardinals enters sede vacante and debates the church's future direction. Two cardinals emerge as leading papabili: Leone and Rinaldi. The conclave grows tense as factions form around competing visions for the papacy.

After seven deadlocked ballots, Lakota is unexpectedly elected pope as a compromise choice. His election is confirmed by spontaneous acclamation in the Sistine Chapel by the College of Cardinals. The moment marks a radical shift as a non-candidate becomes leader of the Church.

Lakota reluctantly accepts the papal office and takes the name Kiril. He steps into the papacy with humility, aware of the immense responsibilities ahead. The faithful react with cautious optimism as global tensions simmer in the background.

As Kiril occupies the papal seat, the world stands on the brink of nuclear war due to a China–Soviet feud intensified by famine in China. The looming war casts a shadow over every decision the Pope makes. Kiril must navigate moral choices amid geopolitical catastrophe.

The evening after his election, Kiril slips out of the Vatican with his valet Gelasio and roams the city in priestly disguise. The outing reveals his humanity and curiosity beyond the papal robes. The nocturnal stroll allows him to observe Rome far from the formalities of the Vatican.

In the streets of Rome, Kiril encounters Dr. Ruth Faber, a doctor entangled in a troubled marriage. He helps secure medicine for a dying Jewish patient and offers a compassionate blessing, reciting a Catholic prayer with the man's friends who note his Jewish ancestry. He also mentions learning the Jewish prayer from a rabbi in the labour camp.

Kiril forms a close personal alliance with Father Telemond, a controversial theologian. As pope, he must authorize the Holy Office to censor Telemond for his heterodox views, a decision that weighs heavily on him. The two remain friends despite the ecclesiastical rebuke.

Shortly after the censure, Father Telemond dies from a neurological malady. The loss deeply grieves Kiril, who valued Telemond's counsel and support. The death also leaves the pope to reflect on the limits of dissent within the Church.

Dressed in civilian clothes, Kiril returns to the Soviet Union to hold a private meeting with Kamenev and Chinese Chairman Peng. They discuss the ongoing crisis and the potential costs of prolonged confrontation. The pope's presence is seen as a bridge between worlds, intensifying hopes for peace.

During his papal coronation, Kiril removes his papal tiara and pledges to sell church properties to help the Chinese. The act symbolizes a radical commitment to peace over wealth and power. Crowds in St. Peter's Square respond with enthusiasm as the world watches.

Kiril's pledge earns international acclaim and is portrayed as a turning point toward peace. The Pope's personal humility and willingness to sacrifice wealth for diplomacy resonates across nations. The film frames this as a hopeful conclusion to a crisis-prone era.