Catholic leaders in New York have strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the Pope, labeling it as offensive, especially following the recent death of Pope Francis.
The Catholic Bishops of New York, in a statement posted on their official X account, expressed their disapproval: “There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis, and the cardinals are preparing for a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.”
The image, which Trump shared on his Truth Social account on Friday, May 2, shows him in full papal attire—white robes and headdress—sitting solemnly with his right index finger raised. Its release came less than a week after Pope Francis’ funeral at age 88.
Trump, who is not Catholic, had earlier joked on April 29 about being his own top pick for pope, though he later mentioned Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York as a strong choice.
The controversy escalated when the White House reposted the image on its official X page, amplifying the backlash.
Among the critics was Republicans Against Trump, a conservative group that reshared the post, calling it “a blatant insult to Catholics and a mockery of their faith.”
Many within the Catholic community have viewed the timing of the post—on the eve of the Church’s conclave—as deeply disrespectful and insensitive.
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