‘Maga Catholics’ are gaining ground in the US. Now their sight is set on the Vatican

Conservative US Catholics like Steve Bannon look to win war that lasts decades' with pope antithetical to Francis

Once the papal conclave starts, the cardinals choosing Pope Francis's successor will be strictly shut off from the world until a new pope is named. But the coming days before the conclave begins on May 7 will see competing factions of Catholics, including many laypeople, campaigning in the Vatican and the US to influence the church's future - none with more urgency than those discontented with Francis's liberal reign.

American Catholics will fight to play a central role. Soon after the news of Francis's death reached faithful the world over, the American counter-revolution mobilized, Vatican watchers say. Red-eyes to Rome were booked. Long-distance phone calls were made. Various cardinals likely received sudden dinner invitations.