Newly disclosed documents from the U.S. Department of Justice have shed light on communications between convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein and former White House adviser Steve Bannon, suggesting discussions about strategies aimed at weakening the position of Pope Francis during a period of heightened tension between the pontiff and conservative Catholic figures.
The records include text messages from June 2019 in which Bannon appears to reference a proposed documentary based on the book In the Closet of the Vatican by French journalist Frédéric Martel. In one message cited in the files, Bannon reportedly wrote that the film would “take down Francis,” placing the pope alongside other global figures he viewed as political adversaries.
Martel’s book, published in 2019, examined questions of secrecy and sexuality within the Vatican and generated significant debate in Catholic and political circles. The author has stated that while he met Bannon to discuss the book, he did not agree to any film project and never received payment, adding that he had no contact with Epstein.
The correspondence between Bannon and Epstein occurred during a period marked by visible opposition to Pope Francis among some traditionalist Catholic leaders. Francis had drawn criticism from conservative factions for his pastoral emphasis on inclusion, outreach to migrants, environmental advocacy and openness toward LGBTQ Catholics and divorced or remarried believers. His 2016 apostolic exhortation following the Synod on the Family and other initiatives were interpreted by some critics as a shift in tone from previous pontificates.
The documents also reveal emails from 2018 in which Epstein and Bannon reportedly discussed concerns about the Vatican’s positions on xenophobia, populism and its diplomatic engagement with China. In some exchanges, Epstein used dismissive language when referring to the pope and the papacy.
In addition to political commentary, the files indicate Epstein’s interest in Vatican financial structures. Correspondence references literature on the history of the Institute for Works of Religion, often referred to as the Vatican bank, and its role in past financial scandals. At the time, Pope Francis had initiated sweeping financial reforms aimed at increasing transparency, including the establishment of the Secretariat for the Economy and the closure of thousands of suspect accounts.
An FBI report included in the release mentions claims from a confidential source that an Italian cybersecurity figure described as connected to Epstein may have possessed a Vatican City passport, though the documents do not provide confirmation.
The revelations come as scholars and Church observers continue to assess the extent to which political networks intersected with internal Catholic debates during Francis’ pontificate. While the documents do not indicate any official involvement by the Holy See in the discussions, they suggest that some political actors viewed the Vatican as a strategic point of influence in broader ideological conflicts.
