The actor playing one of The Two Popes (8)

I believe the answer is:

theocrat

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'one of the two popes' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.

'the actor playing' is the wordplay.
'playing' indicates an anagram.
'actor' anagrammed gives 'ocrat'.
'the'+'ocrat'='THEOCRAT'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for theocrat that I've seen before include "Roman emperor, for example" , "Revered ruler" , "priest-in-charge" , "Deified ruler" , "Ruling priest" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times.

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