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The View’s Whoopi Goldberg Reveals Why Pope Leo Is Her Dream Guest Cohost: ‘Sit With Us’ (Exclusive)

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3 hours ago

May 14, 2026

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If a seat opens up at the “Hot Topics” table on The View, Whoopi Goldberg knows just the person to invite to New York City.

“I’d like to have Pope Leo asking people questions,” Goldberg, 70, exclusively shared with Us Weekly at the Disney Upfronts on Tuesday, May 12. “As an American Pope, it would be great to sit with him, and it’d be great for him to sit with us.”

Ever since Pope Leo, 70, was elected the leader of the Catholic church in May 2025, he has been a topic of conversation on ABC’s daytime talk show.

Goldberg, along with cohosts Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Alyssa Farah Griffin, has discussed the religious leader’s thoughts on peace, abortion and even cosmetic surgery.

Most recently, the panel shared their support for Pope Leo after he was criticized by President Donald Trump, partly because he shared his hope for peace amid the Iran war.

“That’s what the pope’s job is. That’s his job, to help us to recognize what His beliefs are,” Goldberg shared during an April episode of The View. “As an American — he is the first American pope — he has every right [to speak out]. Remember what free speech is and that we all have it. It’s not just for you.”

Although Goldberg doesn’t identify as Catholic, she previously had the opportunity to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican in October 2023. During their chat, she affectionately offered him a cameo in Sister Act 3.

The Oscar winner later paid tribute to the Holy Father when he died in April 2025.

“He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christ’s love enveloped believer and non-believer,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope Frances with your love of humanity & Laughter.”

While Pope Leo’s jam-packed schedule will likely prevent him from appearing on The View, ABC’s talk show continues to welcome a variety of guests during season 29.

When asked to share the secrets behind the show’s longevity, Goldberg said it’s not complicated.

“You know what? It’s really simple,” she said. “It’s never personal, and you just say what you think. That’s what they pay me for, and that’s what I do, so it makes it easy.”

The View airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings online.

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