… Do not mock us
By: Mandy Park
The New York State Catholic Conference has strongly rebuked Donald Trump for sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the Pope. The organization, representing New York’s Catholic bishops, expressed outrage over the post, stating that there’s nothing clever or funny about the image.
The bishops emphasized that the timing of the post was particularly insensitive, coming shortly after Pope Francis’ burial and as cardinals prepare to elect a new successor to St. Peter.
“We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St Peter. Do not mock us,” the statement read.
The image, initially posted on Trump’s Truth Social platform and later shared by the White House’s official X account, depicts Trump in elaborate papal regalia, including white robes, a golden crucifix, and a mitre. This incident follows Trump’s comment, “I’d like to be pope, that would be my number one choice,” made when asked about his preferred candidate for the papacy.
The Catholic Bishops’ reaction underscores the perceived disrespect and insensitivity of Trump’s actions, especially given the sacred nature of the papal conclave .
The digitally altered photo sparked a mix of amusement, disbelief, and heated debate across social media platforms.
The post came just days after Trump told reporters, apparently in jest, “I’d like to be pope, that would be my number one choice,” when asked whom he would support as the next pontiff.
His remark came shortly before the start of the papal conclave convened to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21.
Trump was present at Pope Francis’ funeral last week, marking his first international appearance since returning to public office.
The death of a pope and election of another is a matter of utmost solemnity for Catholics, for whom the pope is Christ’s vicar on Earth. That is all the more true in Italy, where the papacy is held in high esteem even by nonreligious Italians.
The image featuring Trump in a white cassock and pointed miter, or bishop’s hat, was the topic of several questions during the Vatican’s daily conclave briefing Saturday. Italian and Spanish news reports lamented its poor taste and said it was offensive, given that the period of official mourning is still underway.
The post caused considerable outrage online.
When asked to respond to the criticism, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that, “President Trump flew to Italy to pay his respects for Pope Francis and attend his funeral, and he has been a staunch champion for Catholics and religious liberty.”
Trump most recently visited the Vatican last Saturday, in what was his first foreign trip during his second term, in order to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.
Shortly before the funeral began, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss further steps towards ending the war with Russia, as well as a minerals pact that was later signed between the US and Ukraine.
Whilst speaking to reporters last Tuesday, Trump joked that he himself would be his “number one choice”, before adding “I must say we have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York who’s very good.”
Trump was referring to New York Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, one of 10 US cardinals who will be voting in the conclave.
Trump’s pitch might have cost Dolan support, however, as the reason conclaves are held in secrecy, with cardinals sequestered for the duration, in order to prevent outside secular power from influencing their choice.
