Hadrian the Seventh · Character

Pope Leo

The deceased pope whose death leads to the conclave.

minor

Also known as Leo, Pope Leo, the dead Leo

First appearance: ii

Pope Leo's tie to Signor Cabelli is one of the pressures that moves Hadrian the Seventh—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

See Pope Leo in ii Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

With Signor Cabelli (professional): A formal working relationship within the Vatican bureaucracy, with Cabelli as a functionary under Pope Leo. With Mrs. Crowe (social): A distant acquaintance, likely through Church…

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Pope Leo sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Pope Leo in ii

Character Web

47 connections

A slice of how Pope Leo sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Social
Other

Character groups

Papal court and allies
Protagonist
Minor characters and international figures

+42 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Closing

In this scene, Hadrian reaches an emotional and psychological peak by violently rejecting his own past efforts…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

Relationships

Signor Cabelli
professional · ambivalent
A formal working relationship within the Vatican bureaucracy, with Cabelli as a… How this plays out →
Mrs. Crowe
social · ambivalent
George Semphill
professional · positive
Jerry Sant
social · ambivalent
Signor Cabelli
professional · ambivalent
A formal working relationship within the Vatican bureaucracy, with Cabelli as a… How this plays out →
Jerry Sant
social · ambivalent
George Semphill
professional · positive
George Semphill
professional · positive
Jerry Sant
social · ambivalent
Mrs. Crowe
social · ambivalent

Signor Cabelli
A formal working relationship within the Vatican bureaucracy, with Cabelli as a functionary under Pope Leo.
Mrs. Crowe
A distant acquaintance, likely through Church social circles, with little personal warmth.
George Semphill
Allies in Church politics, working together to maintain traditional power structures.
Jerry Sant
A brief and formal acquaintance, with Jerry Sant appearing in the papal household as a minor figure.
Signor Cabelli
A formal working relationship within the Vatican bureaucracy, with Cabelli as a functionary under Pope Leo.
Jerry Sant
A brief and formal acquaintance, with Jerry Sant appearing in the papal household as a minor figure.
George Semphill
Allies in Church politics, working together to maintain traditional power structures.
George Semphill
Allies in Church politics, working together to maintain traditional power structures.
Jerry Sant
A brief and formal acquaintance, with Jerry Sant appearing in the papal household as a minor figure.
Mrs. Crowe
A distant acquaintance, likely through Church social circles, with little personal warmth.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Pope Leo in ii