Former White House strategist Steve Bannon described Pope Leo as a "dark horse" candidate and lamented his progressive views just days before his confirmation.
Bannon appeared on "Piers Morgan Uncensored" to discuss among several topics the forthcoming conclave on April 29. When he was asked whether this was the moment for an American-born pope to lead the Catholic Church, 71-year-old Bannon gave a surprising response.
"I do think one of the dark horses, and, unfortunately, he's one of the most progressive, is Cardinal [Robert] Prevost. I don't think he's getting enough play; he's definitely on the short list," Bannon stated.
The Breitbart News cofounder went on to state the Vatican choosing Cardinal Prevost would be "pretty shocking" because "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," Bannon shared.
He added that Cardinal Prevost is one of the "closest to [Pope] Francis ideologically" before endorsing Cardinal Robert Sarah to lead the church.
Elsewhere in the interview, Bannon predicted a potential schism within the Catholic Church if another progressive leader similar to Pope Francis were elected.
"If an accolade of Francis is chosen, I think you're hurtling down the path of schism," Bannon predicted, citing the growing traditionalist movement within the church.
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