It seems that former President Donald Trump has been eyeing a new role since his return to the Oval Office over a hundred days ago. Recently, he shared an AI-generated image depicting himself as, well, the Pope of a “true social society,” which quickly went viral. Just days after this post, he found himself in Rome, attending the funeral of the late Pope Francis. It looks like Trump might be humorously tossing his name into the mix for the upcoming papal vacancy.
Trump jests about wanting to be Pope – “my number one choice”
The online reactions to Trump’s post were quite varied; while some found it amusing, others felt it was a bit awkward. A columnist from Town Hall, Dastan Greige, brushed off the critics, suggesting that those who were upset were largely atheists, and their views, in his opinion, didn’t hold much weight. He quipped that memes portraying Trump as Christ often faced accusations of blasphemy, yet drawings of the Pope could be genuinely humorous.
On another note, Democratic activist Harry Sisson had words for the “Maga” crowd, suggesting they were electing the “wrong boys.”
The Conclave: Unlike US Elections
This week, when asked if he would like to take on the role at the Vatican, Trump humorously declared he’d love to be Pope, calling it his top choice. Of course, he was clearly joking about naming contenders.
The Cardinals are set to convene at the Vatican on May 7 for the Conclave to elect the next Pope. This process, unlike modern elections, leans more toward prayer and spiritual reflection than actual campaigning.
New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan reflected on the past Conclave in 2013, noting the anxiousness surrounding the election process. He shared an anecdote about a Franciscan preacher reassuring everyone that the Holy Spirit would choose the next Pope, leaving them to merely recognize who it was.
Potential candidates to fill Pope Francis’s shoes include Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State for the Vatican, among others.
