Steve Bannon, known for his far-right political influence in the United States and as a former advisor to President Donald Trump, reportedly reached out to Jeffrey Epstein for assistance in a plot against Pope Francis. CNN reported that Bannon and Epstein exchanged messages in 2019, with newly released Epstein documents from the past year indicating that Epstein had aided Bannon in establishing his political movement. In these messages, Bannon expressed a desire to 'take down' Pope Francis, highlighting his opposition to Bannon's brand of nationalist populism, which the Pope publicly criticized, particularly regarding immigration issues.

The context of Bannon's communication with Epstein suggests a calculated approach to leverage serious allegations and controversial topics against Pope Francis. Bannon is said to have planned a film project based on a book by French journalist Frédéric Martel, which alleged that over 80% of Vatican officials and clergy are homosexual. This strategy appears to be aimed at discrediting Pope Francis, who had notably championed immigrant rights and criticized the nationalist agenda that Bannon represents.

However, the seriousness of Bannon's inquiry remains unclear, raising questions about his intent and whether this was a genuine plan or merely a provocative assertion to garner attention. The interaction between Bannon and Epstein shines a light on the intertwining of politics and personal agendas, especially in the context of controversial figures like the Pope in today's polarized political landscape.