A mirror selfie from the Epstein Files: Steve Bannon (left) and Jeffrey Epstein. The picture was made public by the Democrats.Image: www.imago-images.de
A document in the Epstein files shows: Donald Trump’s former chief strategist worked with Jeffrey Epstein to stir up sentiment against Pope Francis.
February 14, 2026, 2:20 p.mFebruary 14, 2026, 2:20 p.m
He was the chief strategist, mastermind and ally of US President Donald Trump during his first term in office. And he appears prominently in the Epstein files. We’re talking about Steve Bannon.
There are reports on record in which Bannon wrote to Epstein that he would “overthrow Pope Francis.” That reports CNN.
In another message, Bannon compared the current pope’s predecessor, Leo XIV, to the Clintons, Xi Jinping and the EU – all declared enemies of Bannon.
Pope Francis had little regard for the ideas of Steve Bannon and Donald Trump.Image: keystone
Pope Francis was a staunch opponent of Bannon’s nationalist and right-wing populist ideology. The Argentine repeatedly campaigned for migrants during his pontificate.
This is probably why Bannon and Epstein made plans to make a film critical of the Vatican. Specifically, Bannon had in mind to make a film of the book “In the Closet of the Vatican.” French journalist Frédéric Martel’s tell-all book addressed homosexuality in the Vatican and claimed that 80 percent of the clergy in Vatican City were gay.
Epstein should have financed the film and served as an executive producer.
Scenes of a male friendship? This picture is said to have been taken at Jeffrey Epstein’s estate.Image: www.imago-images.de
These were far from the only messages that Bannon and Epstein exchanged. Chat histories show how the two men repeatedly shared and discussed articles about the Vatican.
Bannon is considered influential in Europe and especially in Italy. He has repeatedly met and advised representatives of the Fratelli d’Italia – the post-fascist party of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He shares the right-wing nationalist, anti-migrant stance with her.
It is no coincidence that Bannon opened a branch of his alt-right media “Breitbart News” in Rome in 2014. He described the city as a “new geopolitical center”.
The Epstein Files are always about Pope Francis. In a message to his brother Mark, Jeffrey Epstein jokingly wrote that he planned to invite Pope Francis for a massage during his visit to the United States in 2015. Pope Francis died in April 2025 at the age of 89.
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