Here in a tranquil and secluded rural setting, Benjamin Harnwell's mission is to establish
a training center in a former monastery here in Trisulti....an academy with extremely conservative
outlooks.
With his so-called Institute for Human Dignity, Harnwell has set himself an ambitious goal
– to save Western Civilization, mobilizing Christians and Jews in the fight against Islam
as he refers to religious role models for his mission.
"This depiction here behind me is the martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew.
He was skinned alive for his beliefs in Jesus Christ.
You've got to remember that today in the world Christianity is the world's most persecuted
religion.
We often forget that in the West."
The academy aims to train budding young politicians to become staunch Catholics and right-wing
populists.
"Trisulti in the next generation is going to become the global headquarters of the fight
to defend the Judeo-Christian basis of Western Civilization, not just here in Europe but
right across the world."
The Catholics seem to look on Steve Bannon as the ideal partner for the project -- Donald
Trump's former chief strategist regularly meets with Hartwell in Rome.
They first met when Bannon ran the ultra conservative Breitbart News website.
Bannon is enthusiastic about Harnwell's project.
"I'm just honored he's asked me to help out, and what I'm trying to do is add maybe a little
organizational ability and bring in donors, faculty people I know throughout the world
that can teach."
Bannon wants to bring together populist and identitarian forces in Italy and other European
countries.
A patronage by conservative Catholics suits his cause very well.
He also has his eye on next month's European Parliament elections.
"That's what their fear is, because the populist nationalist sovereignty movement has great
politicians, a great message, and now it has traction.
And that's why it's on the cusp, maybe, if the momentum keeps, through Spain and other
nations, a stunning victory in May."
For Bannon, the academy should become an ideal breeding ground for his crusaders.
Among its backers are ultra-conservative circles within the Vatican -- who reject Pope Francis's
liberal calls for inclusion and support for immigrants.
The American Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke is head of the board of advisers of the Institute
in Trisulti.
He has openly endorsed Donald Trump's conservative agenda in the United States.
Critics see the emergence as an unholy alliance that will seek to use Trisulti to undermine
pluralist democratic societies, led by arch-conservative Catholics who rely on the help of political
agitators like Steve Bannon.
"What they have in common is this obsessive cult of identity.
They say: We represent Christendom, Western Civilization, Europe, founded on Judeo-Christian
values, and we are being invaded, so we must defend ourselves."
Many local residents in Trisulti have launched protests -- they don't want Steve Bannon and
far-right populists here.
The monastery is a religious site, both a place of pilgrimage and a tourist attraction.
They want the government to rescind the lease on the property.
"Why is a local monastery being used for an ideological project?
Trisulti will become the launchpad for a movement.
Just look at its ideas, its sources of finance, and its goals!"
Benjamin Harnwell remains confident.
The lease is valid, he says.
The plans to start operations are in place.
What can stop him and Bannon now?
"Culture is upstream of politics, and that's where we're working at.
So I think anything we're going to do will help Matteo Salvini and any of the populist
nationalist movements in Europe or around the world."
Harnwell's plans seem clear: Trisulti should become a launching pad for far-right populists
to take over Europe . One that can count on the blessing of arch-conservative Catholic
clerics in high places.
The academy aims to start its first courses this summer.
But before that it remains to be seen
how well the nationalists and populists perform
in the European elections in May.