The film was released in Italy on 15 April 2011 through 01 Distribution in collaboration with Sacher Distribuzione. It was launched on 460 screens. With 1,298,524 euro in revenues during the first weekend, the film entered the Italian box-office chart as number two, behind the American film "Rio" which premiered simultaneously. "We Have a Pope" showed In Competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.