President Donald Trump has drawn criticism from Catholic leaders after sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed in papal attire on his Truth Social platform.
The image, which shows Trump in a white cassock and miter, was later reposted by the White House’s official account on X on May 3.
The post was made just over a week after Pope Francis’s funeral and days before the May 7 conclave to elect his successor. Trump had earlier told reporters: “I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice.”
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, who is in Rome for the conclave, responded, “It wasn’t good,” adding, “I hope he didn’t have anything to do with that” to CBS News New York on May 4th.
Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, said the image was “deeply offensive” and added, “He owes an apology,” citing Galatians 6:7: “‘God is not mocked'” in a post on Facebook.
The New York State Catholic Conference issued a statement on X: “There is nothing clever or funny about this image. Do not mock us.”
The Vatican’s Holy See Press Office reportedly declined to comment.
Photo credit: Shaleah Craighead, CC BY 3.0 US via Wikimedia Commons
