Bannon and Epstein discussed plot to topple Pope Francis, records show

In a 2019 exchange, Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon discussed a potential plan to “topple” Pope Francis, according to communication logs.

The records, compiled by the Vatican-focused Substack “Letters From Leo,” reveal Bannon’s list of perceived enemies for himself and the “MAGA” movement. In one portion of the dialogue, Bannon wrote to Epstein: “Clintons, Xi, Francis, EU… come on brother.”

At one point, Bannon jokingly referred to Epstein as a producer for a project code-named “ITCOTV,” which appears to be an acronym for In the Closet of the Vatican, a book detailing the internal secrets of the Holy See. While Epstein dismissed the remark with the single word “Porn,” Bannon’s intent was explicit: “We’re going to topple Francis,” he wrote.

Bannon has long aligned himself with traditionalist Catholics who remain hostile to the reforms enacted by the current pontiff. Emails and receipts indicate that Epstein was an avid consumer of literature regarding Vatican corruption, intrigue, and internal power struggles.

In late 2015, for instance, his purchases included The Vatican Exposed: Money, Murder, and the Mafia, which explored Roman financial scandals, and Merchants in the Temple: Inside Pope Francis’s Secret Battle Against Corruption in the Vatican. A few years later, in 2019, he acquired the explosive title In the Closet of the Vatican: Power, Homosexuality, Hypocrisy, a book featuring secrets from Vatican insiders.

Epstein’s Amazon purchase history highlights that “Vatican conspiracies” were a recurring theme in his library, alongside works on money, power, and politics. The files suggest Epstein was drawn to content offering an inside look at the Church’s darkest scandals, including financial crimes, cover-ups, and factional warfare.

Specifically, Merchants in the Temple outlines Pope Francis’s efforts to dismantle corruption within the Vatican Bank, while The Vatican Exposed links members of the clergy to organized crime—the types of narratives that would appeal to anyone skeptical of institutional secrecy.

By 2019, Epstein’s interest had evolved beyond reading; he was actively engaging with Bannon, one of the Pope’s most vocal critics, and offering feedback on projects designed to expose Vatican hypocrisy. Epstein did more than just consume information on Vatican intrigue; he also circulated “insider” gossip among his circle of powerful associates.

On Feb. 21, 2013, just days after Pope Benedict XVI announced his surprise resignation, Epstein sent an email to former Harvard President Larry Summers containing a startling analysis of what was “really” happening in Rome. “The most important change in the Vatican may not be the sudden retirement of Pope Benedict XVI, but rather the change in management at the Institute for the Works of Religion—the Vatican’s bank,” Epstein wrote to Summers.

He then detailed information regarding the removal of Vatican Bank President Ettore Gotti Tedeschi amid bribery investigations, the discovery of 47 secret files Gotti Tedeschi kept on Vatican insiders, and the banker’s alleged fear of assassination due to his knowledge. Epstein noted that cardinals appointed a new bank head only after this turmoil, followed immediately by Benedict’s abrupt resignation.

According to “Letters From Leo,” Epstein presented these details with the authority of someone who had a mole within the Holy See. In reality, as later reporting suggested, it appears he may have obtained this information from a journalist acquaintance. Nevertheless, the email underscores Epstein’s desire to appear well-versed in Vatican affairs and serves as further evidence of his fixation on the Church’s power dynamics.

Ultimately, Epstein appeared to be part of a broader effort to destabilize the leadership of the Catholic Church during Francis’s tenure. Through his reformist agenda and focus on transparency, Francis earned enemies among certain wealthy conservatives and traditionalist Catholic networks.

The emails also reveal Epstein sharing Breitbart articles—the news portal formerly led by Bannon—concerning “globalist” Vatican conspiracies. He even sent Bannon a quote from John Milton’s Paradise Lost (“Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven”), signaling his apparent support for the former strategist’s campaign against the Church.