Last week on Piers Morgan Uncensored, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, a self-identified conservative Catholic, weighed in on the cardinals being considered to succeed Pope Francis. Bannon pointed to American Cardinal Robert Prevost—now elected as Pope Leo XIV—as a “dark horse” and “one of the most progressive.” He added: “The American church gives so much money, they’re afraid it has too much power, so they’ve never really wanted an American pope. My understanding is Prevost is one of the ones closest to Francis ideologically.”
(Note: Pope Francis elevated Prevost to cardinal, and nearly 80% of the cardinals who voted for his successor were also Francis appointees. Francis led the Church for 12 years, beginning in 2013.)
After Prevost’s election was announced Thursday, Bannon reacted on X with just three words: “Worst pick ever.”
The comment sparked backlash from fellow Catholics, including former Fox News editor Peter J. Hasson, who replied: “Who knows what kind of pope Leo XIV will be, but it’s pretty rich for thrice-married Steve Bannon to act like an authority on what makes a good Catholic—let alone a good pope.”
During his interview with Morgan, Bannon also revealed his preferred candidate: Cardinal Robert Sarah of Africa. Bannon said, “I’m a big believer that Cardinal Sarah would be the perfect selection right now in this moment in the Church.”
Cardinal Robert Sarah, born in what was then French Guinea, addressed the U.S. National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in 2016. In that speech, he warned that “God is being eroded, eclipsed, [and] liquidated” in the United States, citing the legalization of same-sex marriage, mandated contraception coverage in health care, and “bathroom bills” allowing transgender individuals to use facilities matching their gender identity. “Should not a biological man use the men’s restroom?” Sarah asked.
