The night before his birth, Giovanni’s mother dreams she gives birth to a lion on the altar of Florence Cathedral. She convinces Lorenzo that their son’s destiny lies in the church, and he receives the tonsure at seven -years old. By thirteen, he is the youngest cardinal in history.

In 1492, the dying Lorenzo offers his son this advice: “Be grateful to God. You should be the link to bind this city closer to the church, and our family with the city. There will be many who will try to corrupt you.“

Lorenzo was right. Giovanni lives his life in luxury and excess, selling jobs to his friends and running the papal coffers dry. In 1513 with the death of the old Pope Giovanni presides over his own Papal election - just as his mother predicted - taking the title Leo X.

Giovanni is no stranger to violence. He shows them who's boss at the massacre at Prato and has no hesitation in killing conspirators, before they get to him first.

But Leo will always be best-known for his failure to control Martin Luther which breaks the Catholic Church in half.