Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York has endorsed a post by President Trump on his social media platform. This post was made about two weeks after the passing of Pope Francis, with a new Pope having been chosen just days prior to the Cardinals’ meeting at the Vatican.
When a reporter inquired about his opinion on the post, Dolan expressed a wish that Trump “has nothing to do with it.”
“Well, you know, that wasn’t good,” the Cardinal remarked when asked if he felt upset by the post.
Dolan is part of Trump’s Religious Freedom Committee and has generally supported the president. In December, he mentioned that Trump was “taking his Christian faith seriously.”
Trump even joked about Dolan’s potential choice for the next Pope, according to reports.
However, Dolan is not the only one expressing criticism regarding Trump’s image in papal attire. Bishop Thomas Paprocki from Springfield, Illinois, remarked that Trump should “apologize.”
“This is extremely uncomfortable for Catholics, especially during this sacred time, as we still mourn the loss of Pope Francis and pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in selecting our new Pope,” he stated.
The New York State Catholic Congress also condemned the post, deeming the image “neither clever nor interesting.” They highlighted the recent mourning of Pope Francis and the Cardinals’ upcoming conclave to elect a new leader. “Don’t laugh at us,” they added.
On the other hand, Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert since 2019, defended Trump’s post as just a joke.
“As a general rule, I’m joking and not one for those who instigate foolish conflicts that result in the loss of thousands,” Vance wrote in response to a comment from Bill Kristol, former vice president of the George H.W. Bush administration.
