Saturday, March 29, 2025
Trump accused mocking Catholics after sharing an AI-generated photo of himself dressed as the pope, sparking outrage from religious leaders during the Vatican’s mourning period for Pope Francis.
Former President Donald Trump has drawn widespread criticism after posting an AI-generated image depicting himself as the pope. The post appeared on both his Truth Social account and the official White House X account on Friday night, just days after the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26.
The photo, which features Trump in papal robes and a bishop’s mitre with one finger pointed to the sky, appeared during the Vatican’s nine-day mourning period. As cardinals prepared for the conclave to elect a new pope, the image triggered intense backlash and was even discussed at the Vatican’s daily press briefing.
Faith leaders and politicians called the image offensive and poorly timed. The New York State Catholic Conference, representing bishops across the state, issued a stern rebuke:
“There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis. Do not mock us.”
Italian politicians, including former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, condemned the post, calling it “shameful” and “an insult to believers and institutions.” Media outlets across Italy and Spain also labeled the act as one of “pathological megalomania” and accused Trump of treating religion with disrespect.
While some saw the image as a joke, many others saw it as deeply inappropriate. Trump, who recently joked he’d “like to be pope,” is not Catholic and does not regularly attend church, though he did attend Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome.
Despite the criticism, Trump’s allies were quick to spin the post as humor. Senator Lindsey Graham sarcastically called Trump “a dark horse candidate” for pope and joked about the Vatican’s white smoke tradition. Far-right influencer Jack Posobiec also defended the image, saying Catholics had been joking about the conclave all week.
When questioned, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had “always supported Catholics and religious freedom,” downplaying the offense. Yet critics argue the image reflects Trump’s history of courting controversy and ignoring sacred traditions.
The controversy over the image adds to Trump’s growing list of inflammatory social media moments, especially as he continues to blur the lines between political leadership and religious symbolism.
