Rabat – As Catholics around the world mourn the death of Pope Francis, a digitally altered image of former US President Donald Trump dressed as the Pope has struck a nerve, provoking backlash from Catholic groups and political figures.
The AI-generated picture, shared on Friday night through White House social media channels, shows Trump in full papal attire: a white cassock, pointed mitre, and a large cross draped around his neck. His expression is stern, with his finger raised as if delivering a benediction.
Many viewed the post as ill-timed and disrespectful. Pope Francis died on April 21, and the Vatican now prepares to convene the conclave that will elect his successor. In this moment of reflection and grief, Trump’s image has drawn fierce criticism.
“There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr President,” wrote the New York State Catholic Conference on X. “We just buried our beloved Pope Francis. The cardinals are about to enter a sacred conclave. Do not mock us.”
The group, which speaks on behalf of New York’s Catholic bishops, made clear that they saw the image as a violation of both spiritual decorum and basic decency.
Trump had stirred concern earlier in the week with an offhand comment to reporters: “I’d like to be Pope.” That remark, coupled with the AI photo, now appears less like a joke to many and more like a provocation.
Reactions have come from beyond the United States. Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi posted in Italian, “This is an image that offends believers and insults institutions. The leader of the right-wing world seems to find joy in making a spectacle of sacred things.”
At the Vatican, officials avoided direct engagement. Spokesman Matteo Bruni declined to respond to questions about the image during a Saturday press briefing. Attention remains focused on preparations for the conclave, which will begin on Wednesday.
Despite the criticism, the White House defended the post. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump attended Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome and “has always stood up for Catholics and religious freedom.”
Still, for many of the faithful, the image of Trump in papal robes crosses a line. In a moment meant for reverence and unity, it felt to some like mockery dressed up as power.
