Messages exchanged in 2019 between former White House strategist Steve Bannon and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein suggest that Bannon was strategizing to politically destabilize Pope Francis. The revelation comes from a batch of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice linked to the Epstein case. CNN reported that in a message sent directly to Epstein, Bannon expressed his intentions, declaring, 'I am going to take down Pope Francis,' and included a list of other political figures he viewed as adversaries to his agenda.

Bannon's disdain for Pope Francis has been evident since he departed the Trump administration in 2017, as he increasingly focused on criticizing the Pope, viewing him as an opponent of nationalist and sovereignty-focused agendas. His rhetoric reflects a broader trend where right-wing populism in Europe distanced itself from traditional religious authorities, signaling a transformation in the relationship between certain political movements and the Catholic Church. In a previous interview, Bannon had labeled the Pope as 'despicable,' underscoring his contentious views toward Francis' progressive positions on immigration and social justice.

The implications of these exchanges could raise concerns about the intersection of politics and religious leadership, particularly how extremist views may influence attempts to undermine established institutions like the papacy. This also highlights the persistence of radical political movements striving to reshape global narratives around authority figures, with figures like Bannon aligning with controversial personalities to further their agendas, marking a significant trend in contemporary political discourse.