Steve Bannon, a leading figure in the MAGA movement and former chief strategist to President Donald Trump, accurately predicted the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost-now Pope Leo XIV-nearly a week before the College of Cardinals made history by selecting the first American pope. In an April interview with Piers Morgan titled Should the Next Pope 'Make the Vatican Great Again'?, Bannon described Prevost as a "dark horse" and "one of the most progressive" candidates under consideration.
"I do think one of the dark horses, and I think, unfortunately, he's one of the most progressive, is Cardinal Prevost," Bannon said. "I don't think he's getting enough play." Bannon noted Prevost's close ideological alignment with Pope Francis and his extensive pastoral experience in Latin America as factors elevating his candidacy within the Vatican hierarchy.
Prevost, who previously led the Dicastery for Bishops, was not widely seen as a frontrunner due to long-standing resistance within the Vatican to electing an American pope. "It's pretty shocking given the contempt they hold the American church in," Bannon told Morgan. "The American church gives so much money, they're afraid it has too much power. So they've never really wanted to have an American pope."
Despite his accurate prediction, Bannon made clear his own preference was for Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea, whom he described as a strong conservative voice for the Catholic Church. "Cardinal Sarah from Africa would be a perfect selection right now for this moment in the church," he said.
Pope Leo XIV's election on the second day of the conclave prompted mixed reactions among conservatives, particularly within pro-Trump circles. MAGA-aligned commentator Laura Loomer called the new pontiff the "MARXIST POPE!" and accused him of promoting an "anti-Trump, anti-MAGA" agenda.
Criticism centered on Prevost's past social media posts, including one repost from the National Catholic Reporter stating, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others." Prevost had also shared content criticizing the Trump administration's immigration policies and expressing solidarity with migrants and Dreamers.
Political reporter Dave Weigel noted Bannon's accurate forecast, tweeting, "First Trump endorses a higher tax bracket, now this. Bannon piling up Ws."
