Kerry Washington: Pope Francis Is My ‘Celebrity Crush’

Will Olivia Pope add a new “white hat” to her wardrobe? “Scandal” star Kerry Washington has made a surprising confession about Pope Francis.

“I think my celebrity crush is this pope,” the actress said on Thursday’s “Live With Kelly and Michael.”

The Emmy and Golden Globe nominee went on to explain that her decision is based partly on the Catholic leader’s distance from the Hollywood scene.

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“I always get that question and I never want to say anybody, because then you see him at a party. I figure I won’t see the pope at a party,” she joked.

Kerry might have to rethink her choice, however, given the pontiff’s relative stardom following his statements on hot-button topics like gay marriage and climate change.

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Pope Francis reiterated those opinions most recently while addressing a crowd at the White House on Tuesday, during his first visit to the U.S.

“American Catholics are committed to building a society which is truly intolerant and inclusive, to safeguarding the rights of individuals and communities, and to rejecting every form of unjust discrimination,” he said.

The pope’s progressive stance on controversial social issues has generated supporters and protesters alike, but Kerry said she’s happy to declare herself among the former.

“I think he’s so special. I think he’s so humble and so focused on service — just really focused on doing good in the world,” she told “Live” hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan. “Not being judgmental. Letting God be the judge.”

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Kerry’s on-air remarks weren’t her first about the religious icon. On Wednesday, she also teased her papal fandom on Twitter.

Pope Francis might be my celebrity crush. #ImNotEvenCatholic https://t.co/P9rqTFtj71

— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) September 23, 2015

The irony of portraying an ethically ambiguous character named “Pope” is not lost on Kerry, who maintains a sense of humor about the whole thing.

“As opposed to the ‘Pope’ I play, who makes you not so close to God,” she said of her signature heroine. “She’s used to scandals.”

Season 5 of “Scandal” premieres on Thursday at 9 PM ET/PT on ABC. 

— Erin Biglow