Opus Dei Exposed? Journalist Meets Pope Leo in Rare Private Audience

Dr. Steven Hassan goes LIVE with investigative journalist Gareth Gore about his book, Opus: The Cult of Dark Money Human Trafficking and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church. Gore was invited to meet privately with Pope Leo XIV. The Pope was interested to learn about specifics about the deep problems Opus Dei presents to the work of the Vatican. In this livestream, Dr. Steven Hassan, author of The Cult of Trump and creator of the BITE Model of authoritarian control, speaks with Gareth Gore, the financial UK journalist whose reporting has exposed alleged networks of dark money, coercive control, and exploitation tied to Opus Dei. Together, Hassan and Gore will discuss and analyze how systems of undue influence operate not just in fringe groups, but within powerful global institutions. Gore’s recent visit to the Vatican marks a highly unusual moment: the Pope asking to meet with Gore to learn. During their unprecedented meeting, Gore presented documentation and survivor accounts related to alleged coercive recruitment, labor exploitation, and systemic abuse - all claims that Opus Dei has denied. This conversation comes as the Vatican continues reviewing Opus Dei’s statutes and governance structure, following earlier moves to bring the organization under closer oversight. The internal dynamics are complex, with deep divisions between reform-minded leadership and entrenched networks of influence that have operated for decades across politics, media, finance, and education. Dr. Hassan and Gareth Gore will explore: The significance of the Pope to meet with a critical investigative journalist Internal Vatican tensions over Opus Dei reform and governance How do financial structures and front organizations obscure accountability? The role of influence, obedience, and information control within religious institutions Can institutions with entrenched power structures truly reform from within? Allegations against Opus Dei, which include grooming, trafficking, and psychological manipulation What lessons apply more broadly to political and ideological movements today? With Opus Dei’s statutes still under Vatican review and amidst growing public scrutiny, this conversation comes at a critical moment. Gore is not willing to disclose what the Pope asked him about but will share what he told the Pope and why former victims and anti-trafficking activists see this meeting as a sign of great hope. 📚 Read Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church- https://amzn.to/47XO22D To read more about Gore's work, please check out my blog on Substack- https://stevenhassan.substack.com/p/o... 📅 LIVE Friday, March 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time 👉 Like, subscribe, and share to support informed discussions on cults, authoritarianism, and undue influence. Join us LIVE to ask questions, share your perspective, and be part of this important conversation! #StevenHassan #GarethGore #OpusDei #PopeLeoXIV #PopeLeo #Catholic #Catholicism #CultOfTrump #BITEModel #ReligiousAbuse #UndueInfluence #Vatican #BreakingNews #Authoritarianism #MindControl #Pope ******************************************** Subscribe to my podcast: https://freedomofmind.com/podcast-3/ Enroll in our courses - https://courses.freedomofmind.com/col... Download a .pdf of the BITE model here! https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-c... Subscribe to the Freedom of Mind newsletter: https://freedomofmind.com/subscribe/ Read or listen to Dr. Hassan's books: https://freedomofmind.com/books/