NEW INVESTIGATION: Vatican–Marxist Collaboration Exposed — Michael Hichborn Available for Interviews
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Lepanto Institute
May 19, 2026
FORT VALLEY, Va., May 19, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — A major new investigation is igniting national debate within the Christian community as fresh controversy surrounds Pope Leo XIV’s political alliances. When President Donald Trump recently questioned whether the Pope was “surrounded by radicals,” many dismissed the comment as political rhetoric. But a newly released, deeply sourced report from Michael Hichborn, President of the Lepanto Institute, suggests the former president’s concerns may not have been unfounded — and the implications for the global Church are profound.
Hichborn’s 144‑page investigation examines the 2025 World Meeting of Popular Movements, a Vatican‑endorsed gathering held in Rome. According to his findings, the event was not simply a forum for social justice dialogue. Instead, it brought together dozens of organizations that are openly Marxist, pro‑abortion, pro‑LGBT, and in some cases tied to revolutionary activism. Even more alarming, for the first time in the event’s history, every Marxist delegation was paired with mandated representatives from local Catholic churches, signaling a structural partnership between the Church and these movements.
The venue itself — Spin Time Labs — is a squatter‑occupied cultural center known for Marxist symbolism, trans‑feminist activism, Communist Party events, and sexually explicit performances. Senior Catholic officials were photographed participating in the gathering amid Antifa stickers, revolutionary artwork, and banners celebrating radical causes.
Among the groups highlighted in the report are organizations that celebrate Karl Marx as a saint, demand legalized abortion as a class right, promote transgender ideology as a revolutionary necessity, and honor socialist leaders like Hugo Chávez as “eternal commanders.” The meeting concluded with a declaration calling for universal basic income, reduced working hours, universal public healthcare, and a renewed global alliance between Marxist movements and the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV praised the groups as “social poets” and told them, “I am here. I am with you.”
Hichborn warns that this integration represents a grave danger to the souls of the faithful, raising urgent questions for Christians worldwide: Is the Vatican knowingly aligning itself with revolutionary Marxist organizations? Did Pope Leo understand the ideological nature of the groups he embraced? And was President Trump’s skepticism more accurate than critics claimed?
Michael Hichborn is available for interviews to discuss his findings, the spiritual implications for Catholics and Christians, and why he believes this moment demands clarity, courage, and accountability within the Church.
Interview Contact: CJ Wheeler cjradionews@gmail.com 858‑472‑4285
SOURCE Lepanto Institute