Donald Trump has been criticized for seemingly undermining the election of a new Catholic leader after he posted AI-generated images of himself as the Pope on social media.
The photo, shared on Friday via Trump’s Truth Social and the official White House X account, raised concerns at the Vatican.
The image depicted Trump in a white cassock, adorned with a gold cross pendant and a bishop’s miter featuring a playing card, his finger raised skyward. It became a topic of discussion during the Vatican’s daily briefing on Saturday.
This situation unfolded as Cardinals gathered in Rome for the secretive election of the new leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church, just days after Trump joked, “I want to be Pope.”
Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi expressed that the image was disgraceful, stating, “This is an image that angers followers and humiliates the institutions,” on X.
In the U.S., the New York State Catholic Congress, which represents the nation’s bishops, accused Trump of mockery.
“There’s nothing clever or interesting about this image,” they stated. “We have just buried our beloved Pope Francis, and the Cardinals are entering a serious conclave to elect his successor. Don’t mock us.”
Reports from Italy and Spain described the display as in poor taste and offensive, particularly given the ongoing mourning period. Italy’s left-leaning La Repubblica featured commentary criticizing Trump for “pathological hype public relations.”
When asked for a response, White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said that Trump was “a strong champion of Catholics and religious freedom.”
Though Trump is not a Catholic and rarely attends church, he was present at Pope Francis’s funeral just eight days prior.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, added to the discussions with what New York Catholic leaders deemed a mocking tone.
“I was thrilled to hear that President Trump is considering the possibility of being the next Pope. This is a true dark horse candidate,” he wrote on X. “The first Pope and President combination could have many advantages. Watching for the white smoke… Trump mmxxviii!”
Jacques Posviek, a prominent far-right influencer and Trump supporter who attended a Catholic prayer event at Trump’s Florida resort in March, also defended him, saying, “I’m Catholic. We’ve all been joking about the future Pope’s choices all week; it’s just a sense of humor.”
